2 ms·
I don't think there is an ethical financial model to fund drug research. It kind of has to be philanthropy to not deny the sick live saving treatment, especiall
by zanny 12y ago
I don't think there is an ethical financial model to fund drug research. It kind of has to be philanthropy to not deny the sick live saving treatment, especially since those most likely to be chronically ill are also more likely to be poor.
The only way I could see it working would be to have states guarantee a return to investors at some fixed rate of the cost to discover a new drug, and then buy the rights from them and release them public domain so anyone can manufacture it. But any kind of system like that, involving money taken through violent taxation and put through a bureaucratic blender of national politics, is bound for exploitation.
I doubt that in an IP free world all drug research would stop. Those with a vested interest and the charitable could and would fund their own research. One thing to consider is that modern drug research is not directed towards that which is hard or needed, but that which is profitable and wanted. That is why we see a half dozen erection drugs each year yet there has to be viral marketing campaigns for ALS research.
- melling 12y agoIndia has the 10th largest GDP in the world. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal) http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nom... They will soon have the largest population, if the don't already. It's middle class isn't as large as the U.S., but it's growing quickly. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_of_living_in_India http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_of_living_in_India Why wouldn't they want to invest into research to cure common diseases?
- zanny 12y agoBecause those most likely to be infected are those with the least political influence. Globally, the rich are much less likely to get sick, because they live in much more sanitary environments, expose themselves to infection less, and have consistent top tier healthcare to prevent infection. Thus the people who need it least are those who both have the money to potentially fund it themselves and the social power to make representatives care.