ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book is written for all of the constituencies politicians, university professors, inventors and of course the technology transfer community in an attempt to broaden the views of all with a particular focus on their customer, the next group in line in the value chain, but always with a view to providing a better product for patients. It describes the recent history and current pressure affecting the players in the market and where it exists. The book describes some of the tools of the trade can be found, explaining how the industry evaluates opportunities for the most part along with suggestions to assist in communications between the different constituencies. The healthcare market is evolving in the context of a society which daily receives more and better information about the therapies it uses and though their governments are demanding that these products are provided at lower overall cost.
