Altitude Life Science Ventures seeks opportunities to invest in early stage life science companies within markets with significant demand and growth potential, and then backs the highest-quality teams in those markets to build defensible, strong, and long-term businesses. At Altitude, our scope of investment opportunities extends beyond prescription drugs to any commercial application of proprietary technology that originates from a key advance in biology or chemistry, including:​

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• Therapeutics / Diagnostics

• Gene Editing

• AI / Machine Learning Therapeutics

• Autonomous Science

• Medical Devices

• Aesthetic and Medical Dermatology

• Drug Delivery Platforms

• Industrial / Chemical Reactions

• DNA Sequencing

 

​Based upon our historical experience in intellectual property strategic planning, we have developed a differentiated strategy which allows us to complement the contributions of our syndicate partners while conducting extended due diligence before making an investment decision. Our experience in IP strategic planning is essential to maximize and preserve the value of early stage life science companies as they mature and develop identifiable commercial assets.

 

What is intellectual property strategic planning?

 

IP strategic planning is the integration of the fundamental activities of early stage life science companies with the creation,

development and presentation of the company’s IP portfolio, on a worldwide basis.  Critical to IP strategic planning is the development of multiple levels of protection to:

 

Complement the maturation of the company and development of the technology:

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In all early stage life science companies, there is a natural evolution of the underlying technology as it moves from product concept to reality, and as the company goes through associated rounds of financing.  A strong IP portfolio that tracks the development of the company’s technology, protecting each improvement and variation, is critical to preserve value along that evolution.

 

Confirm competitive advantages:

In almost all instances, the underlying technology upon which a life science company is formed provides key competitive advantages in the marketplace.  It is critical for the IP portfolio to leverage those advantages in order to establish the company’s position against potential competitors.

 

Preserve near and long-term product opportunities:

Early stage companies, by their nature, must be selective regarding which product opportunities they initially take forward. The IP portfolio must not only reinforce near-term product opportunities, but must also preserve the company’s ability to monetize longer-term opportunities.

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Complement research and development activities:

The research and development of products in the life sciences arena often requires large expenditures of capital.  Therefore, it is critical that the IP strategy anticipate milestones that may be achieved within the R&D pathway, and proactively establish a corresponding IP portfolio to maximize the value of those achievements.

 

Support business development activities:

An integral part of any collaboration strategy or licensing activity is the underlying strength of the associated IP.  In order for a company to realize the greatest value through a such a relationship, the IP portfolio must directly complement the basis for, and objectives of, the collaboration or license.

 

Maximize both the perceived and demonstrated value of the company’s technology:

As a life science company moves toward a liquidity event, the potential market associated with the pharmaceutical, device, tool or instrumentation developed by the company will be the primary driver of valuation.  Critical to realizing that value, however, is the existence of an IP portfolio that provides the perceived opportunity to effectively “dominate” a relevant therapeutic or diagnostic space, in addition to protecting the near-term revenue potential for the product.