Pathways to biomedical tipping points: Vertical, horizontal or other

Breakthrough innovations in biomedical technologies such as treatments, devices and diagnostics are increasingly addressing complex medical needs and yielding significant scientific progress. The pathways to their commercial success, however, are poorly understood. In contrast to recent calls for a return to vertical integration, we suggest that relying on strong and unique horizontal relationships among biomedical organizations is more likely to shape technology convergence and increase success rates in achieving a tipping point or critical mass to address unmet medical needs, build new intellectual property and extend profitable growth from served markets.