Pfizer Inc.'s latest pledge to academic research, a five-year $85 million agreement to fund projects at the University of California, San Francisco, isn't just a deepening of the Big Pharma's commitment to on-campus studies intended to bridge the so-called Valley of Death between the laboratory and the commercial sector. [See Deal] It's also a sign of the increased importance of deals between pharmas and universities, which give commercial partners access to new research earlier in the development process while nudging academics toward projects with commercial relevance in mind.
Pfizer has collaborated with institutions before, including a $15 million three-year deal with the University of Pennsylvania, a $22.5...
