For example, consider the rather enormous amounts of money the industry spends on developing new statin after statin for blood pressure control. Many newer on

For example, consider the rather enormous amounts of money the industry spends on developing new statin after statin for blood pressure control. Many newer ones are more or less medically indistinguishable from existing ones on the market, but they are chemically distinct enough to be patentable. Similar story with SSRI antidepressants. Compare with the absolute dearth of research on new antibiotics and vaccines (until recently). We need those far more than we need yet another statin or SSRI, but those you can sell daily for life, and the others are a single dose.