Replies to post #64658 on NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

[beartrap12]

I understand your point about not paying Cognate some profit, Austin, but remember that NWBO was a tiny biotech in 2002 and still is. COgnate was set up to serve all of Tuscon's small biotechs, most of which were stem cell companies in the early 2000s. It was a great idea because it freed the scientists to be scientists and saved them from the growing pains of trying to be both scientists and businessmen, which we know often doesn't work. I know the history because I spent many nights researching through Internet files to find the original statements about Cognate. It's job was to do a great job of manufacturing live cell product at a time when perhaps only one or to companies in the world did this. The good thing about this arrangement is that NWBO is not at the mercy of a company that may not be willing to work with their timeline and needs. So we don't have to worry about a manufacturer refusing to do what we need done when we need it done, and Linda can help oversee the quality of their work, as well.
Also, you must realize that if you do something on a small scale, as NWBO would have been doing if it manufactured its own product, you will make enough mistakes to eat up any "profits" you pay to an expert who does it day in and day out. Also, you still need all the expensive equipment and the clean rooms, even if you only use them a could days out of the month. I run my own photography business and have the best printing machines, but I turn down every request I get to print somebody's personal picture. That's because I don't have the right equipment to color correct amateur photos and I would run through paper and ink eyeballing it, which is how I print my own stuff.
When you have a small pool of manufacturers to choose from, you can quickly get into trouble. NWBO has a lot of enemies out there. I can imagine what a nightmare it could have been for NWBO if BP or the shorts had yanked the strings of their manufacturer to turn them away at a critical moment. That kind of loyalty money can't buy.