4 ms·

It would be nice for someone to start a non-profit organization supported by donors that would exist purely to purchase rights to these medicines and keep them

It would be nice for someone to start a non-profit organization supported by donors that would exist purely to purchase rights to these medicines and keep them relatively low-cost to patients.

kjs3 11y ago
It would be nice if such an organization didn't need to exist.
- sneak 11y ago
  This is the direct and real damage of the government allowing the fiction known as intellectual property to continue to exist.
  - ikeboy 11y ago
    Neither this drug nor the one from Turing are under patent. Anyone can make it, if they're willing to invest the required money.
thrownaway2424 11y ago
Great idea, and we could call it "the government".
- sneak 11y ago
  S/he said "non-profit" and "donors".
  - Rotten194 11y ago
    Keeping people alive in a first-world country shouldn't rely on the whims of private charity.
    - sneak 11y ago
      But as long as it's not a first-world country, fuck those guys, huh?
- jayess 11y ago
  Yes, another government program to address problems caused by government in the first place. Brilliant.
  - chrisan 11y ago
    What is the original problem(s) the government started in the drug industry?
    - toomuchtodo 11y ago
      Allowing drugs to be patented.
Gustomaximus 11y ago
Australia has the 'PBS' system. It largely works in 2 parts; One the medicine is subsidised with a user co-payment. And secondly the government negotiates with companies to be in the PBS program. This way, especially where there are multiple drug choices there is massive negotiation power. They essentially offer access to our entire country or none. Another effect is this scheme encourages generics so people don't pay for brand names, and if they do they're likely off the PBS list so you would pay full price so the government doesn't have to subsidise the premium. It's not a perfect system and it's getting more expensive but it works OK in the privitised medicine system: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme
bsimpson 11y ago
Based on the article, it sounds like Purdue University's research arm was serving more-or-less this function, but because they were losing money on regulatory costs, they accepted Rodelis's offer to buy the rights. Now, Purdue has the rights again, and is aiming for a more sustainable price.

It would be nice for someone to start a non-profit organization supported by donors that would exist purely to purchase rights to these medicines and keep them relatively low-cost to patients.

kjs3 11y ago

It would be nice if such an organization didn't need to exist.

sneak 11y ago
This is the direct and real damage of the government allowing the fiction known as intellectual property to continue to exist.
- ikeboy 11y ago
  Neither this drug nor the one from Turing are under patent. Anyone can make it, if they're willing to invest the required money.

thrownaway2424 11y ago

Great idea, and we could call it "the government".

sneak 11y ago
S/he said "non-profit" and "donors".
- Rotten194 11y ago
  Keeping people alive in a first-world country shouldn't rely on the whims of private charity.
  - sneak 11y ago
    But as long as it's not a first-world country, fuck those guys, huh?
jayess 11y ago
Yes, another government program to address problems caused by government in the first place. Brilliant.
- chrisan 11y ago
  What is the original problem(s) the government started in the drug industry?
  - toomuchtodo 11y ago
    Allowing drugs to be patented.

Gustomaximus 11y ago

Australia has the 'PBS' system. It largely works in 2 parts; One the medicine is subsidised with a user co-payment. And secondly the government negotiates with companies to be in the PBS program. This way, especially where there are multiple drug choices there is massive negotiation power. They essentially offer access to our entire country or none. Another effect is this scheme encourages generics so people don't pay for brand names, and if they do they're likely off the PBS list so you would pay full price so the government doesn't have to subsidise the premium. It's not a perfect system and it's getting more expensive but it works OK in the privitised medicine system: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Benefits_Scheme

bsimpson 11y ago

Based on the article, it sounds like Purdue University's research arm was serving more-or-less this function, but because they were losing money on regulatory costs, they accepted Rodelis's offer to buy the rights. Now, Purdue has the rights again, and is aiming for a more sustainable price.