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GlaxoSmithKline’s

Patent Pools OPEN BUSINESS MODELS

Inside-Out 113

The inside-out approach to open innova- PATTERNS
tion ordinarily focuses on monetizing unused acquisition
internal assets, primarily patents and technol- retention
ogy. In the case of GlaxoSmithKline’s “patent
ip for
outside
pool” research strategy, though, the motivation underserved researchers
was slightly diΩerent. The company’s goal was diseases
to make drugs more accessible in the world’s
poorest countries and to facilitate research Unused internal ideas,
patent pools
into understudied diseases. One way to achieve R&D, and intellectual
this was to place intellectual property rights property related to
diseases in poor nations
relevant to developing drugs for such diseases
have substantial value
into a patent pool open to exploration by other license fees
when “pooled”
researchers. Since pharmaceutical companies
focus mainly on developing blockbuster drugs,
intellectual property related to less-studied
diseases often lies idle. Patent pools aggregate
intellectual property from diΩerent rights-
holders and makes it more accessible. This helps
prevent R&D advances from being blocked by
a single rights-holder.

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