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

- Show: [Let's Combinate](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate)
- Published: 2025-08-27
- Length: 45m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-08-27-203-drug-delivery-platforms-ip-battles-supply-chain-risks-with-jim-collins
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letscombinate/episodes/203---Drug-Delivery--Platforms--IP-Battles--Supply-Chain-Risks-with-Jim-Collins-e379sti

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-08-27-203-drug-delivery-platforms-ip-battles-supply-chain-risks-with-jim-collins#t=6) Introduction: Jim Collins and the history of Eli Lilly's device organization
- [3:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-08-27-203-drug-delivery-platforms-ip-battles-supply-chain-risks-with-jim-collins#t=234) The 'Wild West' early days of drug delivery vs. today's structured environment
- [7:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-08-27-203-drug-delivery-platforms-ip-battles-supply-chain-risks-with-jim-collins#t=429) Intellectual property battles: Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Eli Lilly's IP wars
- [16:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-08-27-203-drug-delivery-platforms-ip-battles-supply-chain-risks-with-jim-collins#t=1002) Three reasons to develop your own platform: differentiation, supply chain, and cost
- [19:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-08-27-203-drug-delivery-platforms-ip-battles-supply-chain-risks-with-jim-collins#t=1189) Supply chain risk, geopolitical considerations, and Black Swan events
- [27:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-08-27-203-drug-delivery-platforms-ip-battles-supply-chain-risks-with-jim-collins#t=1638) Strategic suppliers vs. transactional vendors and relationship management
- [31:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-08-27-203-drug-delivery-platforms-ip-battles-supply-chain-risks-with-jim-collins#t=1867) Drug-device integration, governance, and organizational capability
- [37:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-08-27-203-drug-delivery-platforms-ip-battles-supply-chain-risks-with-jim-collins#t=2265) Future trends: Large volume autoinjectors, connected devices, and tariffs

## Topics

- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Eli Lilly (company)
- Sanofi (company)
- Novo Nordisk (company)
- Genentech (company)
- BD (company)
- Ipsen (company)
- SHL Medical (company)
- Enable Injections (company)
- Forteo Pen (product)
- Trulicity (product)
- Lantus (product)
- SoloStar (product)
- TwinPen (product)
- QuickPen (product)
- Savio Pen (product)
- Dupixent (product)
- Mounjaro (product)
- Pixlant (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Darragh Hudson | How to Set up A Manufacturing Supply Chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-11-18-darragh-hudson-how-to-set-up-a-manufacturing-supply-chain) (Being an Engineer)
- [Supply Chains and Manufacturing with Charles Lin of TechDesign](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-07-06-supply-chains-and-manufacturing-with-charles-lin-of-techdesign) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [Supply Chain Challenges in Medical Device Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-06-17-supply-chain-challenges-in-medical-device-manufacturing) (OnTrack)
- [Passing Storm or New Normal? How Should We Think of Today's Electronics Supply Chain?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2022-11-22-passing-storm-or-new-normal-how-should-we-think-of-todays-electronics-supply-cha) (Moore's Lobby)
- [DeepDive 1-on-1 Series: FUEL & PROTECTION - Securing the Supply Chain Before the Climb (31m22s)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/npi-sherpa/2026-03-03-deepdive-1-on-1-series-fuel-protection-securing-the-supply-chain-before-the-clim) (NPI Sherpa)

## Citing this page

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