203 - Drug Delivery, Platforms, IP Battles, Supply Chain Risks with Jim Collins

Let's Combinate · 27 Aug 2025 · 45m

What this episode covers

Jim Collins, a drug delivery veteran with over 30 years at Eli Lilly and Sanofi, discusses the evolution of combination products from the 'wild west' of the 1990s to today's complex IP landscape. He explains how competitors like Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and Sanofi used intellectual property to weaponize device differentiation, creating barriers that now force companies to consider owning platforms for cost and supply chain control. Collins highlights critical supply chain risks, such as single-sourcing in Taiwan, and emphasizes the need for strategic partnerships over transactional vendor relationships to mitigate 'Black Swan' events. He concludes by predicting the rise of large-volume autoinjectors (2-5 mL) and the potential future of connected devices, while noting the impact of tariffs on global supply chain positioning.

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