First to See the Light

Lessons from the Collapse of SVB: Why Proper Risk Management and Transparency are Essential in the Financial Industry

Photo credit: The New York Times

By Bill Clifford — CEO, Spencer Trask & Co.

 

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has sent shockwaves throughout the financial world. It is a sobering reminder that even the most well-respected companies can suffer catastrophic losses if they become complacent or fail to adapt to changing circumstances. There are several key lessons that we can learn from this unfortunate event.

First, it is important to understand that no investment is completely risk-free. While SVB was widely regarded as a stable and trustworthy firm, the reality is that it was exposed to significant market risks. When those risks materialized, the firm was unable to absorb the losses and ultimately collapsed. This serves as a reminder that investors should always carefully consider the risks associated with any investment and diversify their portfolios accordingly.

Next, the collapse of SVB highlights the importance of proper risk management practices. While it is impossible to completely eliminate all risks, firms must take steps to identify and mitigate potential risks. This includes conducting thorough due diligence on investments, monitoring market trends and conditions, and maintaining sufficient reserves to cover potential losses. When firms become over-reliant on a single investment or fail to properly manage risks, they can quickly find themselves in financial trouble.

Thirdly, the collapse of SVB underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the financial industry. Investors have a right to know how their money is being invested and what risks they are exposed to. Firms must be transparent about their investment strategies and be held accountable for any losses that occur. This includes proper disclosure of all relevant information, as well as taking responsibility for any mistakes or misjudgments that may have led to losses.

Lastly, the SVB collapse highlights the need for greater regulation in the financial industry. While some may argue that excessive regulation can stifle innovation and growth, the reality is that without proper oversight, firms may engage in risky or unethical behavior that can harm investors and destabilize the financial system. Regulators must work to ensure that firms are adhering to proper risk management practices, maintaining adequate reserves, and being transparent about their investment strategies and activities.

This moment serves as a warning that the financial industry must continue to evolve and adapt to changing circumstances. As technology and markets continue to evolve at a rapid pace, firms must be willing to embrace new strategies and technologies in order to stay competitive and mitigate risks. This includes investing in new technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence, as well as adopting new business models that can better navigate the challenges of an increasingly complex and interconnected global economy.

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The Immune Response Corporation

Revolution in Immunotherapy

DISCOVERY – Non-infectious viral vaccines.

INNOVATOR – In the history of medicine, few figures have had as profound an impact on human health and wellbeing as Dr. Jonas Salk. His polio vaccine breakthrough was the culmination of centuries of research, dating back to Louis Pasteur discovering inoculation. However, Salk’s method was different. He found a way to protect people from viruses without giving them the very disease the vaccine was designed to prevent.

Using this no-infection method, Salk worked with Kevin Kimberlin of Spencer Trask to develop cancer vaccines and an immunotherapeutic to slow or prevent AIDS. They patented and conducted preclinical studies on a cancer vaccine that demonstrated a startling 90% protection against lethal malignancies. 

IMPACT – A fusion of dendritic cells and the cancer antigen, their technology formed the basis for the first FDA-approved cell-based immunotherapy. Over 40,000 men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer have received the treatment, and it appears especially effective for African-American men who receive a 48% improved survival benefit compared to white men.

The team and facility making this immunotherapy also made clinical and commercial supplies of the first approved gene therapy, the CAT-T drug Kymriah.

The first approved cell-base immunotherapy and gene therapy prompted the FDA Commissioner to say, “New technologies such as gene and cell therapies hold out the potential to transform medicine and create an inflection point in our ability to treat and even cure many intractable illnesses.”

The noninfectious vaccine approach developed by Jonas Salk eliminated polio from the developed countries, his flu vaccine mitigated the effects of influenza for the past 75 years, and finally, the cancer vaccine developed at his Immune Response Corporation led the way to gene, cell-based, and immune therapy innovations that will impact human health for generations. In summary, Salk released the last step in enabling the most important preventative medicine – non-infectious viral vaccination.