4 ms·

The scientist (or team) in question who creates the drug is almost never the one collecting the rents. A researcher working for Pfizer is essentially getting t

The scientist (or team) in question who creates the drug is almost never the one collecting the rents. A researcher working for Pfizer is essentially getting the same deal as a researcher working for the government or a publicly funded university. The main difference is that the government and publicly funded universities do not have a marketing line item on their budget that is ~120% of their R&D budget.

Pyxl101 12y ago
> A researcher working for Pfizer is essentially getting the same deal as a researcher working for the government or a publicly funded university. A voluntary agreement that the scientist and Pfizer both believe is in their own interest. The scientist presumably believes that Pfizer's funding and research equipment etc. is worth the shared ownership or whatever arrangement results. > The scientist (or team) in question who creates the drug is almost never the one collecting the rents. Can you clarify what you mean? If Pfizer conducts the research then they collect the rent. If an independent scientist conducts the research, then they will own the IP and will collect the rent instead.
- crdoconnor 12y ago
  >A voluntary agreement No job contract is truly voluntary in the absence of a guaranteed livable income. Period. Take the implicit threat of poverty out of the salary/job negotiation process (e.g. with a basic income) and then we can talk about "voluntary" contracts. >Can you clarify what you mean? If Pfizer conducts the research then they collect the rent. Legal entities do not conduct research, people do. Legal entities do collect rents, though (which are then distributed). Ostensibly, the patent system is there to spur innovation by people.
  - JoeAltmaier 12y ago
    Exaggeration? Small jobs are everywhere (washing dishes, hauling, yard work) that put off starvation. That means you can take a (little) while to decide on a job, and reject jobs that don't appeal. Its not "take the 1st job you find or die".
    - sgift 12y ago
      So, to not take a job I don't want I have to take another (small) job. Sounds pretty much like "you either have some job or you die" to me. And not exactly voluntary.
      - JoeAltmaier 12y ago
        Yes but the job-offerer is not in the driver's seat- you are. That's the point.
bzbarsky 12y ago
Citation please on the 120% number? The only times I've seen anything close to that it turned out that was the overall SG&A number as described in <http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2013/05/20/but_dont_drug_companies_spend_more_on_marketing.php> http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2013/05/20/but_dont_dru.... But if you have a reliable source for this number, I would be very curious to see it. If you _are_ talking about SG&A, then I assure you that the government and publicly funded universities have SG&A numbers absolutely dwarfing their R&D spend.

Pyxl101 12y ago

> A researcher working for Pfizer is essentially getting the same deal as a researcher working for the government or a publicly funded university. A voluntary agreement that the scientist and Pfizer both believe is in their own interest. The scientist presumably believes that Pfizer's funding and research equipment etc. is worth the shared ownership or whatever arrangement results. > The scientist (or team) in question who creates the drug is almost never the one collecting the rents. Can you clarify what you mean? If Pfizer conducts the research then they collect the rent. If an independent scientist conducts the research, then they will own the IP and will collect the rent instead.

crdoconnor 12y ago
>A voluntary agreement No job contract is truly voluntary in the absence of a guaranteed livable income. Period. Take the implicit threat of poverty out of the salary/job negotiation process (e.g. with a basic income) and then we can talk about "voluntary" contracts. >Can you clarify what you mean? If Pfizer conducts the research then they collect the rent. Legal entities do not conduct research, people do. Legal entities do collect rents, though (which are then distributed). Ostensibly, the patent system is there to spur innovation by people.
- JoeAltmaier 12y ago
  Exaggeration? Small jobs are everywhere (washing dishes, hauling, yard work) that put off starvation. That means you can take a (little) while to decide on a job, and reject jobs that don't appeal. Its not "take the 1st job you find or die".
  - sgift 12y ago
    So, to not take a job I don't want I have to take another (small) job. Sounds pretty much like "you either have some job or you die" to me. And not exactly voluntary.
    - JoeAltmaier 12y ago
      Yes but the job-offerer is not in the driver's seat- you are. That's the point.

bzbarsky 12y ago

Citation please on the 120% number? The only times I've seen anything close to that it turned out that was the overall SG&A number as described in <http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2013/05/20/but_dont_drug_companies_spend_more_on_marketing.php> http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2013/05/20/but_dont_dru.... But if you have a reliable source for this number, I would be very curious to see it. If you _are_ talking about SG&A, then I assure you that the government and publicly funded universities have SG&A numbers absolutely dwarfing their R&D spend.