Practicing Repurposing in the Pharmaceutical Industry: Uncovering New Uses for Potential Resources
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Author
Date
2019Type
- Doctoral Thesis
ETH Bibliography
yes
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Abstract
By focusing on a set of practices and challenges in the pharmaceutical innovation process, this dissertation offers implications on the management theory and practice in three ways. Study I focuses on the question of how existing objects (i.e., tangible and intangible assets that actors act on) gain new use values by investigating a novel practice of drug repurposing—i.e., seeking new therapeutic applications for existing drugs. Study II examines the societal challenge of rare diseases, which have been largely neglected by commercial pharmaceutical companies. To this end, study II analyzes the practices of two non-profit organizations that were effective in circumventing market and government failures underlying rare diseases by repurposing off-patent (generic) drugs. Study III focuses on a highly relevant empirical problem of delays in termination decisions of research projects during the drug development process.
Study I takes on a practice theory perspective on resources (i.e., resourcing perspective), and contributes to the literature on the resourcing perspective by developing a framework of intentional and systematic resourcing processes. Study II provides new insights into the mutual constitution of organizational arrangements for societal challenges, particularly social entrepreneurship, and the practices they host. Study III identifies factors catalyzing delays in termination decisions during the drug development process and provides recommendations for practitioners and researchers working on drug discovery and development.
The studies in the dissertation suggest several future research avenues, centering on future research questions that studies have indicated from a practice theory perspective, and on extending implications of studies to different empirical settings. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000404107Publication status
publishedExternal links
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Publisher
ETH ZurichSubject
Management; Resources; Strategy; Organization theory; Drug repositioning; Drug discovery and developmentOrganisational unit
03719 - von Krogh, Georg / von Krogh, Georg
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ETH Bibliography
yes
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