Dr. Michael Berelowitz, senior VP and head of worldwide medical research at the world's largest pharmaceutical company, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), is an endocrinologist, specializing in diabetes. Born in Rhodesia, he originally trained in South Africa and moved to the US in 1978, joining Pfizer in 1996. He is due in Israel to attend the Biomed Israel 2007 Conference opening in Tel Aviv on June 5. During his week-long visit, Berelowitz will hold a series of meetings - following which, he says, apologetically, "maybe I'll have some time left for family in Israel."
A staunch advocate for Pfizer, Berelowitz loves his job and believes that the company should make a more substantial entry into the biotech industry. In an exclusive interview with "Globes" ahead of the conference, he waxes lyrical in his superlatives about Israel's biomed industry and technology sector in general. He stresses that the romance between Pfizer and Israel will develop even further in the coming years, and, incidentally, he hasn't heard about Teva's failure to acquire the generics division of German pharmaceutical giant Merck KGaA.
Israel is like Silicon Valley
Globes: Aside from lecturing at the conference, what is the agenda for your Israel visit?
Berelowitz: "I'll be meeting government representatives, scientific committees and, of course, scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Technion Israel Institute of Technology. I'll also be meeting my colleagues at Pfizer Israel and, probably, our research partners at Hadassah Medical Center."
Does Pfizer generally invest in small companies, start-ups?
"It depends on the strategic requirements of the company in question. We tend to invest at every stage of the company's development, including the initial trials stage.
What are the advantages of Israeli companies?
"If I had to choose one answer to that question, I would say the intellectual and scientific capital in Israel. There is no question that we go for technologies that are close to our own field, such as immunotherapy products that are suited to us, but we are also branching out into other platforms. Israel is like Silicon Valley, it has a lot of factors that make it attractive. For many years Israel has been at the forefront of scientific research in biotechnology. It has advanced technology alongside advanced healthcare. Doctors in Israel train overseas, but they have made impressive achievements in Israel as well. Israelis have the ability to adapt military inventions for civilian medical device use at the highest level. The doctors know what they're doing, and they do it with amazing efficiency."
Which areas are you focusing on in Israel?
"We're looking at all strategy-related fields, and we're seeking a convenient collaboration that would be a match for Pfizer's business model. We're a drug company, so our search will focus on drug innovation. However, we're also looking at other aspects of biotechnology medicine in devices and diagnostics. Pfizer has a very strong R&D division. We have found Israel to be an ideal place in which to conduct clinical trials at the highest standards. We're active in 11 medical fields, and in each one we have plans for products in both early-stages and advanced stages of development. We're focusing primarily on oncology; cardiovascular and hematology; obesity and diabetes; the brain and nervous system; inflammation and infectious diseases. However, I must stress that we're interested in all areas in which we can demonstrate creativity and innovation."
Are you also interested in medical databases?
"The advanced state of Israel's IT industry has been a great help to us in collating authentic data. We have had difficulty collating data in many places worldwide, but the technology in Israel is amazing, and it enables us to obtain real data on the effect that drugs are having on patients. It might a boring topic, but Israeli companies can make a lot of money from it."
You recently signed a collaboration agreement with QBI for development activity related to age-related macular degeneration.
Berelowitz is enthusiastic about this. "That's right. It's a company with an amazing technology. Its CEO, Daniel Zurr, is very impressive. We wouldn't have entered a collaboration with the company, had we not seen serious potential."
You're collaborating with QBI at an early stage.
"That's right. Phase II clinical trials."
What are your criteria for entering a partnership?
"We look for targets that will bring about a breakthrough, a significant large scale change - it doesn't matter whether they're small or large molecules. Pfizer's business model is focusing principally on needs that will reach a peak in 2010-2015.
How much have you invested in Israel and what is Pfizer's agenda for the coming years?
"We're currently investing $10 million a year in research, accessibility to clinical trials and issues connected with our company's social responsibility in Israel. I don't have any figures on future investment."
Are the large drug companies making more aggressive inroads in biotech?
"Pfizer's CEO has declared publicly our company's desire to adopt biotech, even though a few big companies still haven't done this. We would definitely like to be bigger players in this industry."
Do you sense a fear of the big companies?
"Sometimes, small companies are apprehensive, but our experience with our partners has been positive. Relationships have to be based on mutual advantages, without any excessive dependence, otherwise companies will suffer. This balance is achieved by building synergy and common interests. These relationships are crucial, as is the correct balance, if it is to be expanded to other significant fields."
What is your personal dream?
"To bring relief to the masses. Look at what Lipitor has achieved in the treatment of cardio-vascular diseases. 150,000 people are now using it."
That dream will make Pfizer a lot of money.
"True." (Berelowitz smiles).
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on May 28, 2007
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