The Biotech Genie is out of the bottle....3 CEO Christmas wishes

As we approach the festive season, Brits look forward to a unique and slightly eccentric theatre experience based on traditional children's stories known as Panto. Aladdin And The Magic Lantern is an all time favourite and so the story goes, he finds a magic lantern and discovers on rubbing it three times, a Genie is released and grants any 3 wishes.

There is a catch however (as in life.....) - once the Genie has granted three wishes, it can't be put it back into the bottle and so is forever free to get up to all kinds of mischief.

So what mischief have the Biotech Genies been up over the last 12 months and what three wishes are granted to hard working Biotech CEOs?

CEO Wish Number One. ' I wish I didn't have to spend my life on planes attending investor conferences'

I have never failed to be impressed by the stamina of CEO's tasked with banging the drum to raise money to keep the show on the road. The programme is gruelling, rolling one from investor conference to the next and all starting in January and JP Morgan in San Fran. Travel bans and virtual partnering has not only cut down on travel but in many ways has democratised access to finance. The travel Genie is out of the bottle. No more planes, increased access to finance and longer runways for cash strapped business - your wish is granted.

CEO Wish Number Two. ' I wish that society better understood and appreciated the great work we do and that our reputation as an industry is enhanced'

Let's be honest, with everyone focused on cell and gene therapies related to immuno oncology, who was really thinking about these applications in vaccines? Covid changed that landscape and perhaps more importantly, catapulted to stardom people and companies that appeared from over the hill to save mankind - that is not hyperbole. The whole calculus on industry reputation has been completely turned on its head and there is no reason why that can't be built on. The reputation Genie is out of the bottle. Great science, great people and a total transformation of industry reputation. Your wish is granted.

CEO Wish Number Three. 'I wish it didn't take so long and cost so much to bring medicines to patients with a clear unmet medical need'

Bravo to the teams at Moderna, BioNTech/Pfizer and Oxford/AZ compressing 10 years into 8 months, completely turning on its head the arguments about costs and time and creating a whole new paradigm around bringing new medicines to patients in need. The R&D time and costs Genie is out of the bottle driven by a shared goal between regulators, selfless trial volunteers and the power of industry collaboration. Your wish is granted.

Roll on mass vaccination, mass testing................return to our new normal and the Biotech Genies that are never going back in the bottle ('oh yes they are.........' - you have to have been to a Panto to understand that joke...).

As ever delighted to get your comments.