Oct. 18 – Bristol-Myers Squibb and the University of Catania are to begin a new chapter of cooperation between pharmaceutical companies and universities: a master student in Pharmaceutics at the University’s Medicine and Surgery Department will complete his training by doing an internship on Clinical Methodology in the pharmaceutical company. What’s more, it’s the first time a master student has the possibility of conducting an internship in the Medical Direction of such a firm to learn directly how strategic decisions are taken, concerning medical products, clinical development and market access. The aim of the initiative is to boost the university-private firm partnership in the health care sector. “It’s an important step forward – says Giovan Battista Leproux, executive medical director at Bristol-Myers Squibb – because it recognizes the importance of practical experience in R&D. And we hope this is just the first step in the cooperation between universities and private companies in a field where so many interests are shared.” Maria Angela Sortino, director of the Department’s master program, explains, “the idea behind this collaboration was born out of the need to build a bridge between these two sectors. It is essential for the soon-to-be doctor to understand how the pharmaceutical world works, what its development stages are and how the post-marketing management functions.”
