| | February 20178CIOReviewHow to Nurture a Biotech? Sometimes, Like a TeenagerWe are at a point in time where the old perceptions of what a biotech company is and is not are beginning to exceed the rules. Where we had once thought of biotechs as needing less Information Technology solutions in comparison to big pharma, we are now realizing that isn't necessarily the case. Biotechs can oftentimes be compared to teenagers--facing maturity issues that come with major changes like launching a first commercial medicine--all under the watchful eyes of worldwide regulatory agencies, the SEC and investors, and while maintaining the youthful scientific environment that made it great to begin with. It is the CIO's job to maintain an environment where a biotech can continue rapid growth, where employees can be empowered to work on medicines that help patients, and to do so in accordance with a myriad of regulations. The pace is similar to the rapid technology changes we see every day. The "Consumerization of IT," when well used, is incredible for collaboration and using your own devices. However, like a teenager with the latest social app on their phone, the communication is great, yet you always have to be careful of what you're posting, since it stays there forever. These rapidly evolving technologies are often introduced early in a biotech. When used appropriately, they enable the people who dedicate their brilliance to changing patient lives for the better to make faster decisions and collaborate easily.When I joined ARIAD in March 2015, one of my first responsibilities was to develop a series of roadmaps to ensure that team members in each division of the company had ready access to the appropriate IT solutions to By Nicholas Ventresca, SVP & CIO, ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. [NASDAQ:ARIA]In my opinion
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