A Biotech Cartoon

History of Science
Environmental & Science Education
Edward Hessler

By Glenn Fawcett (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/911248) [Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

I first learned about the biotech company Theranos, a silicon valley company from Ken Auletta's article in The New Yorker, December 15, 2014. It was a profile of its CEO, Elizabeth Holmes. Her intent was as Auletta put it "to upend the lucrative business of blood testing."

Holmes struck me as a phenomenon, charismatic, brilliant with a very strong sense of purpose. Driven comes to mind. She started the company at age 19, a drop-out of Stanford University. Theranos had many of the qualities of a company that would know success. At the time of Auletta's essay she was 30 years old.

Homes had a powerhouse board, e.g., George Schultz, William Frist, Henry Kissinger, and Sam Nunn. Auletta describes some of the details of board structure and function as well as investors and Holmes's view of how the company would be grown.

A history of the rise and fall of Theranos is found in a cartoon history. It is from NPR ((KQED) and is very clever and fascinating. Don't miss it. In addition to the cartoon you will find many links to accounts of Theranos story.