Activating global science networks to identify novel targets in autoimmune diseases

The challenge

Inpart recently collaborated with a leading global pharmaceutical company to find new opportunities in the autoimmune disease space. Due to competitive sensitivity, the company has chosen to remain anonymous.

Specializing in a broad range of pharmaceuticals and healthcare solutions, the company consistently focuses on bringing innovative medicines to market. A key part of their strategy involves identifying novel assets and establishing new partnerships to bolster their R&D pipeline. However, the challenge of identifying and activating a global science network to uncover relevant and novel opportunities in autoimmune research can be complex and time-consuming.

The solution

To overcome this challenge, the company turned to Inpart’s Connect Campaigns, a premium scouting service designed to identify hidden, unique, and relevant technologies, collaborative opportunities, and experts from Inpart’s extensive global network of research institutions and biotech companies.

The primary objective was to deploy an Industry Call for Opportunities (ICO) campaign aimed at connecting with academic researchers and biotech assets that could address the company’s specific R&D challenges in the autoimmune space.

“Inpart Connect Campaigns was our strong ally in accessing new opportunities of interest,” said a researcher from the global pharmaceutical company.

Understanding the need

The collaboration began with researchers at the pharmaceutical company outlining their current challenges and needs in autoimmune research. Inpart’s dedicated account manager then worked closely with them to develop a detailed brief for the ICO. This brief served as a comprehensive guide both for Inpart’s research team of STEM experts, and Inpart’s network of academics and biotech companies, ensuring that only the most relevant and promising opportunities were identified.

“We were impressed by their high ability to understand our area of interest.”

OI

Open Innovation team member

Global Pharmaceuticals Company

Targeted outreach

Leveraging the brief, Inpart’s research team meticulously screened the academic and biotech landscape, identifying and targeting over 1,400 organizations worldwide. The outreach strategy included direct contact with Inpart network members, newsletters, and social media engagement to maximize the campaign’s visibility and impact.

The result

• 1,486 universities approached 
• 74 countries worldwide
• 136 opportunities submitted
• 3 introductions facilitated

The ICO campaign was a significant success, generating enthusiastic participation from both academic researchers and biotech companies.

The 6-week campaign resulted in the submission of 136 opportunities, each carefully reviewed by Inpart’s Campaigns team alongside the company’s scientific and partnering teams.

All submissions were delivered through Inpart’s online triage and partnering system, Inpart Deal, which provided the company with a streamlined process for reviewing, assessing, and keeping records of the various scouting campaigns.

“The process was well organized by Inpart’s account manager and simultaneously flexible to fit our request.”

OI

Open Innovation team member

Global Pharmaceuticals Company

8 weeks after the results were shared, the company provided feedback, and as with all Connect Campaigns, the company was directly put in contact with potential new partners, initiating conversations around collaboration and partnership opportunities.

In a recent update on the progress following the campaign, the company shared:

“We are beginning to build new relationships and have had non-confidential discussions with some biotech submissions. We are also in contact with an academic submitter and may possibly have further discussions for a partnership.”

OI

Open Innovation team member

Global Pharmaceuticals Company

Looking ahead, the company hopes to incorporate promising candidates either by in-licensing or by funding a research collaboration. Inpart’s account manager remains in close contact, ensuring that partnering conversations continue to advance smoothly and that the company fully capitalizes on the opportunities uncovered through the ICO campaign.

“Connect Campaigns exposed us to broader range of opportunities from all over the world, and thus, helped us to identify and connect with new opportunities which we could not reach out by ourselves.”

OI

Open Innovation team member

Global Pharmaceuticals Company