Application of Real Options Valuation to R&D Investments in Pharmaceutical Companies

This paper provides an insight into the application of real option valuation method to R&D projects in pharmaceutical companies. As one of the most important corporate finance decision-making methods, real option valuation method has been introduced in the last two decades. By applying option...

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Main Author: Zhang, Huan Ran
Format: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Language:English
Published: 2006
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/20458/
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author Zhang, Huan Ran
author_facet Zhang, Huan Ran
author_sort Zhang, Huan Ran
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description This paper provides an insight into the application of real option valuation method to R&D projects in pharmaceutical companies. As one of the most important corporate finance decision-making methods, real option valuation method has been introduced in the last two decades. By applying option valuation methods, real option valuation is a useful tool to company managers. R&D investments in pharmaceutical companies are subject to considerable uncertainty, which may involve possibilities (i.e. Options). Options create value when the future is uncertain, and they support management to draw the highest possible value from an investment. After a careful review of the literature, including the definition and types of real options, its advantages over traditional valuation method and fundamentals of option pricing model, the general application of these theories to R&D investments in pharmaceutical industry is analysed. A case study of Davanrik at Merck & Co. is introduced to illustrate a situation in a real world context. Several option pricing methods can be used for a real options valuation, but binomial trees valuation method is chosen, as it could be more suitable model for valuing investment with high uncertainty, like pharmaceutical R&D s, especially for this complex compound rainbow option. The use of two different valuation methods provides two different option values, which shows the importance of choosing a correct valuation method. In all, the use of real option valuation approach could increase the value of pharmaceutical R&D investment, and the binomial trees approach is capable for valuing investments with high uncertainty like in this context.
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spelling nottingham-204582018-05-01T14:07:46Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/20458/ Application of Real Options Valuation to R&D Investments in Pharmaceutical Companies Zhang, Huan Ran This paper provides an insight into the application of real option valuation method to R&D projects in pharmaceutical companies. As one of the most important corporate finance decision-making methods, real option valuation method has been introduced in the last two decades. By applying option valuation methods, real option valuation is a useful tool to company managers. R&D investments in pharmaceutical companies are subject to considerable uncertainty, which may involve possibilities (i.e. Options). Options create value when the future is uncertain, and they support management to draw the highest possible value from an investment. After a careful review of the literature, including the definition and types of real options, its advantages over traditional valuation method and fundamentals of option pricing model, the general application of these theories to R&D investments in pharmaceutical industry is analysed. A case study of Davanrik at Merck & Co. is introduced to illustrate a situation in a real world context. Several option pricing methods can be used for a real options valuation, but binomial trees valuation method is chosen, as it could be more suitable model for valuing investment with high uncertainty, like pharmaceutical R&D s, especially for this complex compound rainbow option. The use of two different valuation methods provides two different option values, which shows the importance of choosing a correct valuation method. In all, the use of real option valuation approach could increase the value of pharmaceutical R&D investment, and the binomial trees approach is capable for valuing investments with high uncertainty like in this context. 2006 Dissertation (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/20458/1/06MA_Finance_and_Investment_lixhrz.pdf Zhang, Huan Ran (2006) Application of Real Options Valuation to R&D Investments in Pharmaceutical Companies. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished)
spellingShingle Zhang, Huan Ran
Application of Real Options Valuation to R&D Investments in Pharmaceutical Companies
title Application of Real Options Valuation to R&D Investments in Pharmaceutical Companies
title_full Application of Real Options Valuation to R&D Investments in Pharmaceutical Companies
title_fullStr Application of Real Options Valuation to R&D Investments in Pharmaceutical Companies
title_full_unstemmed Application of Real Options Valuation to R&D Investments in Pharmaceutical Companies
title_short Application of Real Options Valuation to R&D Investments in Pharmaceutical Companies
title_sort application of real options valuation to r&d investments in pharmaceutical companies
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/20458/