***NOTE: THIS COURSE DESCRIPTION IS FROM PAST SEMESTER (SPRING 05), AND REPRESENTS OUR MOST CURRENT VERSION FROM JAMES ROBINSON. WE WILL UPDATE THIS COURSE DESCRIPTION IF WE RECEIVE A NEWER VERSION.***

COURSE NUMBER: MBA296.2* Cross-listed with SPH

COURSE TITLE: Health Technology Finance and Strategy

UNITS OF CREDIT: 3

INSTRUCTOR: James Robinson

E-MAIL ADDRESS: jamie@berkeley.edu

CLASS WEB PAGE LOCATION (HTTP URL): TBA

MEETING DAY(S)/TIME: Monday 4:00-6:00 PM

PREREQUISITE(S): none

CLASS FORMAT:  One lecture/discussion session per week

REQUIRED READINGS:  To be listed on syllabus, available first day of class

BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE:  Two papers, class participation

ABSTRACT OF COURSE'S CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:

This course examines corporate finance and strategy in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries.  Topics will include venture capital,  public equity markets, and retained earnings as sources of investment in research and development; the product cycle (research, regulatory approval of products, pricing, marketing); licensing and joint ventures; mergers and acquisitions.  This course is designed to complement Health Technology Policy (Fall Semester), but one is not the prerequisite for the other.

This class is optional for the joint MBA/MPH degree and the Certificate in Health Management.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:

James Robinson is Professor of Health Economics and Chair of the Division of Health Policy and Management at the UCB School of Public Health.