5 ms·
I can say with confidence that >90% of new small-molecule pharmaceuticals would not be created in a patent-free world. Now, not every new small molecule drug is
by fipple 8y ago
I can say with confidence that >90% of new small-molecule pharmaceuticals would not be created in a patent-free world. Now, not every new small molecule drug is important, in fact probably the majority aren’t. But those that are, save a lot of lives.
- cwkoss 8y agoCounterpoint - it would drastically reduce overprescription of ineffective medications that have strong marketing
- fipple 8y agoNot sure why it would. Companies would still market the drugs they had.
- quadrangle 8y agoThe economic harm to society that comes from patents is more than enough to fund public research that could employ the same smart people to discover the same medicines.
- eropple 8y agoNot saying you're wrong, but the implication that such public research would happen assumes facts not in evidence.
- quadrangle 8y agoEh, we're in fantasy-land already if we're talking elimination of patent law.
- mrob 8y agoThe market for pharmaceuticals is already very far from being a free market. It's a heavily regulated industry with extremely high compliance costs. In this specific case, further market distortions in the form of patent monopolies might be necessary to make the market work. Most industries do not have this level of regulation.