How can a biotechnology start-up navigate a complex stakeholder and regulatory terrain to bring to market an advanced product with potentially significant public health benefits? This case targets the challenges confronting Ventria Bioscience, a small biotechnology company based in California. The attempts to get regulatory approval in California to commercialize its invention of the company met with a firestorm of resistance from a broad variety of stakeholders, including consumer advocates, food safety activists, environmentalists and rice farmers.
The case presents the hurdles faced by Ventria as it's tried to commercialize its innovation in the context of the broader debate over the ethics of plant-based medicines. This case scenario is fitting for an upper-division undergraduate or graduate class in entrepreneurship, small business, the management of biotechnology or technology. In a discussion of stakeholder relationships and the regulatory environment, it's best placed in this kind of class. Alternatively, the case may be used in a class in society and business in a section on technology or stakeholder relationships.
PUBLICATION DATE: January 22, 2009 PRODUCT #: 909M11-PDF-ENG
This is just an excerpt. This case is about INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
