This Past Week, Merck, Lilly And Purdue Announced The Young Institute -- To Advance... "Pharma 4.0" Discovery & Manufacturing

No figures have been disclosed by either company, or the Young family estate and trust, or Purdue itself. That should be at least one good indication that this is largely a show pony. [And the appearance of Merck's name here on the midwestern plains. . . likely flows from Merck's current CEO's (Mr. Davis') time -- nearly two decades ago, as a mid-level tax lawyer -- at Lilly.]

To be sure, it is a very timely one (for appearances) -- given that Tangerine 2.0 is at least blustering -- that he may start removing tax breaks for US pharma concerns that do almost all their manufacturing outside the US. Obviously that is a patently stupid way to achieve a policy goal, but this initiative addresses the issue -- since everything is appearance over substance, for him anyway. Here's the university's presser, and a bit:

. . .Purdue University, in collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company and Merck & Co. Inc., announced. . . the funding and launch of the Young Institute Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Consortium, a collaborative effort to pioneer advances in making medicines. . . .

“We’re on the frontier of Pharma 4.0 — autonomous experimentation, advanced robotics, big data, smart factories, AI and machine learning,” said Karen Plaut, Purdue’s executive vice president for research. “Through this partnership, we will have a global impact in solving complex problems in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem.”

The consortium will elevate and enhance pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical advanced manufacturing by developing disruptive innovative technologies, autonomous systems, and smart AI and digital technology, together with industrially relevant education and training for the next generation of scientific leaders and researchers. The collaboration also underscores a commitment to onshoring pharmaceutical manufacturing while bolstering domestic production. . . .

Yes. Yes -- of course. I've lived long enough (since 2016, anyway) to know that almost nothing Tangerine burps about -- related to pharma. . . ever becomes binding law or even semi official regulatory policy. So we will just. . . nod and salute, smartly -- as this particular parade rolls through town. It too -- will pass. Onward.

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