Mechanism of Opportunity Loss for Technology Development: A Case Study in Manufacturing Technology for Antibody Products

Abstract

An important role of scientific knowledge in innovation is well known as a factor which provides a start point for novel technological trajectories. However, a relationship between scientific knowledge and self-reinforcement of technological trajectories has not been understood. A technological trajectory using CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary) cell in production of bio- pharmaceuticals is self-reinforced in path-dependent manner under design hierarchies from recombinant pharmaceuticals to antibody products. Moreover, novel virus information increased ex post manner under incertitude of knowledge concerning virus safety against production cells strengthened the trust to CHO cell relatively because of its existing operating experiences. The incertitude of scientific knowledge for virus safety enhanced the self-enforcement to CHO cell and induced opportunity loss to develop a novel technology to manufacture antibody products more efficiently. It is important to consider incertitude of scientific knowledge in innovation in order to prevent opportunity loss for a novel technological trajectory.