Tim Harris is the author of the new book In Pursuit of Unicorns: A Journey Through 50 Years of Biotechnology. He is a molecular biologist and biochemist with decades of experience in the biotech industry. Also a venture partner at SV Health Investors, he lives in the Boston area.
Q: What inspired you to write In Pursuit of Unicorns?
A: No one has written a book on the history of biotechnology from a technology perspective. I have been fortunate enough to have been involved directly in many of the technologies so I thought I would write one.
One inspiration came from receiving a book in the mail called Invisible Frontiers describing the work making insulin by using recombinant DNA methods.
It turned out when I received the book from a second-hand bookstore my copy had been signed by six of the most important founding scientists and management at Genentech. I saw this as a portent to get the book written as Genentech was the first real biotech company
Q: How was the book’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?
A: I was talking to one of my kids about the book and the fact that biotech (and tech) companies with valuations of over a billion dollars are called unicorns. I thought we should use the word unicorns in the title because the creatures are as mythical as some of the biotech companies turned out to be.
Over dinner we decided to try In Pursuit of Unicorns and then qualify it with what the unicorns were: biotech companies. It stuck and my editor suggested we used the Dutch tapestries for the cover. Please don't judge the book by the cover--but the cover is awesome and I hope the book lives up to it.
Q: What would you say are some of the most common perceptions and misconceptions about biotechnology?
A: One of the most common misconceptions is that the people in the biotech industry are in it for the money. There are one or two biotech billionaires but they are few and far between. Most of us do it because we love the technology and we want to make drugs for less fortunate people suffering from intractable disease using the technology.
Many of the people who made money from biotech did their jobs for the same reason and were very successful. The book is full of examples of the technology and the people who did this.
Q: The journalist Nicholas Wade said of the book, “For those who have followed from the outside the spectacular growth of the biotech industry, Tim Harris provides a vivid account from the inside--the people, the science, the finance, the patent disputes, and of course the patients are all deftly woven into a compelling narrative of this magnificent episode in medical history.” What do you think of that description?
A: I thought it was very good of Nick to take the time to read the book and to make such remarks about it. He told me, as did others who made comments, that they enjoyed the history but also the anecdotes and footnotes. For those that know me they said they could hear me saying it!. Great feedback for a first time author.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I have some thoughts about a second book but I want to see what people think of the first one before I start another one. It was a fun thing to do especially during the COVID pandemic when going out was difficult.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Just that I think it is important to give back. I have been fortunate to have been involved in biotech from the get go and I realise what a privilege that has been. For those young people who are looking for things to do, read the book and don’t be shy about getting involved in new and maybe slightly risky ventures. You will have more fun at work that way. I certainly did.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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