Biotech Industries
BIO, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, is the premiere trade organization for biotech information distribution and advocacy. An NGO whose membership consists of most of the companies in the industry, BIO organizes conferences, collects performance data and serves as the industry's prime lobbiest with both federal and state governments.
It's unsurprising that one agency forms such a clearinghouse for biotech companies, as alliances and partnerships make the whole industry a bit incestuous. Celera is allied with Genetech who's also allied with Serono who's also allies with Amgen who, etc., etc. And half of these companies are allied with Pfizer, probably the US's biggest pharmaceutical firm.
The leader in the biotech field is Genetech, with research that covers all areas of development, but focuses most on oncology (cancer), immunology and blood systems. However, they have a strong alliance with Celera, a fact which might keep The Survivors away.
After that, industry dominance fluctuates between the following companies:
- Amgen: A Fortune 500 Company, considered to be one of the most future-oriented of the biotechs. They focus mostly on debilitating diseases, like cancer, kidney disease and blood problems. Amgen is based out of California.
- Serono: They focus mainly on reproductive health and neurology, one of the few industry leaders that does. A Swiss company, their main facility is in Geneva, which may cause The Survivors problems domestically if they decide to work with them.
- In announcing the opening of King Farm, Milos Wiazowski also announced that the community had partnered with Serono. This came as a surprise to The Hopewell Foundation, who had had a verbal agreement to work with Serono.
- Biogen: They're big into immunology, which means they're one of the companies that would likely have the best facilities for making products for public benefit out of The Survivors' tissues. Biogen is based out of California.
- Chiron: Like Biogen, Chiron is primarily an immunology (and oncology) company. Chiron is based out of California.
- Genzyme: Though not the biggest company in the industry, Genzyme is still larger than a few hundred others and solidly on the top 10 list. They focus on rare (but serious) disorders, which means they've got experience dealing with the unusual, which could be of great help for The Survivors' understanding of how they've changed. Further, they've got a great history of charity - they've been providing about 200 patients in about 15 countries free enzyme treatment for Gaucher's disease for the last few years, with plans to expand that program as they're able. Their main facility is outside of Boston.
- This is the first biotech company that The Hopewell Foundation has worked with.
