Start-up, Year Two

As my tiny company hovers on the brink of non-existence, I recently passed my second-year employment anniversary. Here's how the numbers shake out for 2013:

(Year One Stats)

Time
"Standard" 40-hour work weeks: 2
45-60 hour weeks: 46
60+ hour weeks: 4
Total hours where I've been the only employee in the facility: >300
Weekends worked: 4
Holiday + vacation + sick days used: 29
Paycheck snafus: 3

Chemistry
Total Reactions Run (2011-2013): >850
Synthesized compounds evaluated in disease models: 10
Total NMR Experiments (2011-2013): >1,150
Total Papers Downloaded (2011-2013): >2,200
Total Inventory Chemicals: 380
Fume Hood Failures: 3
Total boxes of gloves used (2011-2013): 23

People
Turnover (2011-2013): 70%
Company Interviewees: 7
Happy Hours: 1

Biz Dev
Grants Submitted: 12
Teleconferences: 63
Conferences / Events: 14
Slide Decks constructed: 36
Presentations: 5
Total Business Cards Distributed (2011-2013): 400+ 
Total Reimbursed Mileage (2011-2013): 3,100+

Ephemera
Total Purchase Orders (2011-2013): 317
Continuing Ed / Training Classes: 20 hours
Holiday Parties: 0

Science First!

An astute reader clued me in to a fiery interview with Regeneron CEO Dr. Leonard "Len" Schleifer featured in FierceBiotech today (emphasis mine):

"Regeneron CEO Dr. Leonard "Len" Schleifer, who founded the company in 1988, says he takes pride in the fact that his team is known for doing "zero" acquisitions. All 11 drugs in the company's clinical-stage pipeline stem from in-house discoveries. He prefers a science-first approach to running a biotech company, hiring [CSO George] Yancopoulos to run R&D in 1989, and he endorsed a 2012 pay package for the chief scientist that was more than twice the size of his own compensation last year. 

Scientists run Regeneron. Like Yancopoulos, Schleifer is an Ivy League academic scientist turned biotech executive. Regeneron gained early scientific credibility with a 1990 paper in the journal Science on cloning neurotrophin factor, a research area that was part of a partnership with industry giant Amgen. Schleifer has recruited three Nobel Prize-winning scientists to the Board of Directors, which is led by long-time company Chairman Dr. P. Roy Vagelos, who had a hand in discovering the first statin and delivering a breakthrough treatment for a parasitic cause of blindness to patients in Africa.   

"I remember these people from Pfizer used to go around telling us, 'You know, blockbusters aren't discovered, they're made,' as though commercial people made the blockbuster," Schleifer said in an interview. "Well, get lost. Science, science, science--that's what this business is about."

From all of us toiling away at the bench on this sweltering summer day: Thanks, Dr. Len!