Methods of improving the expression of ANY recombinant protein from commonly used vectors in E. coli
> Proven in large scale clinical manufacturing of many biologics and industrial enzymes
> Protected by U.S. Patent No. 5,256,568 and 5,776,751
Methods of targeting common drugs by binding to protein pockets in therapeutic mAbs and other proteins
> Particular applications in cancer treatment by combination of mAbs with chemotherapy
> Protected by US Patent 6,406,710 B1 (June 18, 2002)
Excerpts from: Panayotatos N. (2003) "Outside Expertise" Nature Biotechnology 21, 131
A typical year involves 1,800 formal work hours, if one subtracts weekends, vacation, holidays and sick leave. At $100 per hour, this equals an annual salary of $180,000 for a senior level industrial scientist. However, the typical compensation package also includes health insurance for the employee and family, employer contributions to a pension plan and considerable stock options. This raises the hourly rate to nearly $150, if not higher.
This simple math shows that to contract a worker at that level of expertise and hourly rate makes economic sense. Add to this the ease of hiring and firing, the immediate availability of the expert and the elimination of the management headaches of fitting senior level staff to an existing corporate structure and you have a win-win situation even at a much higher hourly rate. Of course, the value that an outside expert may bring into moving a project ahead and solving critical problems is incalculable.
Furthermore, an outside expert who does not get involved with personnel issues makes much more efficient use of his/her time and is approached more openly than a corporate manager. This greatly facilitates communication and often brings solutions to problems from within the organization.
Today's means of communication make expert advice, problem solving, planning and supervising experiments at a distance very feasible. I, for one, have brought several contracts to fruition with clients that I have yet to meet in person! Working with contract workers or even employees at a distance, saves the employer space and utility costs and is already common practice in the computer industry. With the expanding role of IT, it is becoming an important trend in the biotechnology industry, as well. __ Nikos Panayotatos, Ph.D.
