Case Name :      Spinal Cord Injury Treatment

Authors :           Elizabeth M.A. Grasby, David House

Source :             Ivey Publishing

Case ID :            907M18

Discipline :        Social Enterprise

Case Length :    12 pages

Solution Sample availability : YES

Plagiarism : NO (100% Original work)

A research team has discovered a treatment to reduce the severity of spinal cord injuries and improve the injured victim’s long-term quality of life. The director of the team fears that the biopharmaceutical company that owns the patent for the antibody used in the treatment will not pursue the development of this application, and she must develop a strategy to garner the firm’s support. If the patent holder chooses not to move forward with the treatment, the director has the option to continue development herself, but she is not convinced she has the business skills to do so. Students consider the ethical dilemma of balancing the necessity of a business to generate profits for its investors with the needs of society.