title: Small business development for molecular diagnostics.
abstract: Molecular profiling, which is the application of molecular diagnostics technology to tissue and blood -specimens, is an integral element in the new era of molecular medicine and individualized therapy. Molecular diagnostics is a fertile ground for small business development because it can generate products that meet immediate demands in the health-care sector: (a) Detection of disease risk, or early-stage disease, with a higher specificity and sensitivity compared to previous testing methods, and (b) "Companion diagnostics" for stratifying patients to receive a treatment choice optimized to their individual disease. This chapter reviews the promise and challenges of business development in this field. Guidelines are provided for the creation of a business model and the generation of a marketing plan around a candidate molecular diagnostic product. Steps to commercialization are outlined using existing molecular diagnostics companies as learning examples.
authors.affiliation: Tatari Design Center and Zorba Marketing Incorporated, Alexandria, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Anthanasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anagostou
authors.forename: Lance A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Liotta
mesh_terms: D019981:Health Care Sector; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000191:economics*; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D058012:Small Business