Life Science clients, including pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical/biotechnology and medial device/scientific instrument companies are looking for a better way to share, yet protect, proprietary information during due diligence with their external partners. This information may include scientific studies, clinical trial protocols and reports, regulatory filings, intellectual property (IP) summaries and filings, financials, market research and more. How can Merrill DataSite^® help and what should you look for when comparing solutions and making a purchase decision?

Years ago the idea of using a virtual data room (VDR) seemed like it would never be accepted. The concept of taking paper due diligence materials and placing them ‘online’ seemed too far fetched to work. People felt the internet would never have the level of security or the speed required to display sensitive corporate information to outside parties. Once internet connection speeds increased and security measures improved so did the idea of people reviewing information on a computer screen from the comfort of their own office. Today, VDR awareness is still growing and the adoption rate continues to move further downstream from Fortune 500 companies to middle market companies. Additionally, VDRs were primarily viewed as tools for divesting assets by auction. Today the use of virtual data rooms has expanded to acquirers in two party (one buyer, one seller) transactions.

Company managers and owners continually seek to achieve a maximum return on their interests, from inception to exit. How is it then that so few are willing to maintain a state of asset readiness that would allow them to take advantage of opportunities that may materialize at any moment?

Grocers have known about this little trick for a long time: they put a cheap, irresistible price on some special to get shoppers in the door—all the while knowing that they’ll make up for that loss-leader by overcharging on the rest of the groceries.