Techdirt Podcast Episode 119: Does Pharma Really Need Patents?
from the let's-dig-in dept
It doesn’t take many stories of people suffering due to unaffordable medicine to make you question the state of pharmaceutical patents, but the arguments in their defense are loud and frequent. Most are variations on the same theme: without the promise of a monopoly, important drugs would never be researched and developed. But does this argument truly hold up? It’s come up as a tangent in previous episodes of the podcast, but this week we’re dedicating a full episode to questioning the popular defenses of pharma patents and looking for a better way forward.
Follow the Techdirt Podcast on Soundcloud, subscribe via iTunes or Google Play, or grab the RSS feed. You can also keep up with all the latest episodes right here on Techdirt.
Comments on “Techdirt Podcast Episode 119: Does Pharma Really Need Patents?”
ROFL. One day, if it hasn’t happened already, the very patented drugs you despise will literally save your life.
Keep tilting at windmills, TD. Nobody hates innovation more than you.
Re: Re:
You should probably actually listen to the podcast before making yourself sound like an idiot, because it doesn’t say what you seem to think it does.
Re: Re: Re:
Honestly, I tried to listen to one of your podcasts once. It was so incredibly terrible that I couldn’t finish it. The problem was simply that you guys are idiots, enamored of yourselves so deeply that you turned off all critical thought when it came to any information you hadn’t pre-decided couldn’t possibly be true, no matter how true in fact it was. I sincerely doubt this fundamental problem of idiocy has been even somewhat meaningfully addressed. Think I’ll pass. But keep on tilting. There’s, like, dozens of people who think you’re smart. Might even be hundreds.
Re: Re: Re: Re:
I think a great solution to your problems would be to stop reading and commenting on this blog, friend.
Re: Re:
the very patented drugs you despise will literally save your life.
Hey, can you point out where I said I despise patents drugs? Because I’ve never suggested that ever at all.
Is there a reason you just make up shit? Is it because you can’t actually respond to our arguments, or that you can’t comprehend them?
Re: Re: Re:
Where’s the "Ooooo, snap!" button?
My stance, and this is where the podcast seemed to lean towards the end, is that sure having some other model for encouraging drugs to come onto the market despite costly safety studies would be desirable, but until then I will be supportive of patents in this arena.
And in coming up with this new model (which hasn’t been brought up in the podcast) it’s worth considering that governments generally do invest in drug discovery (I don’t know whether the US does though), but they generally don’t currently have anywhere near funds to invest in the safety funds. So if the government’s involved, that may need to be fixed.
that’s just gonna make him more determined to kill it, then! nothing like encouraging an idiot to act even more stupid, especially when there is self reward involved and let’s face it, no one would do something like this unless they were gonna get something out of it personally, unless they are just out for revenge because they didn’t get the job they have now, sooner!! just look at the guy and try to convince me he is the full ticket! not gonna happen!!
Before I listen to cast I have to say -- extending lifespan?
Word 1 Diabetes, 2 Immune system genetics, 3 the list of inconvenient problems that are easy; all bacteria want too kill humans, 4 crazy viruses that have an eye out for hosts, and there is no hepatitis C vaccine.
I’m just listing the medical industries, I mean health care insurance top money payouts. I’m saying 1 & 2 don’t cure,just manage. I have ben told that HEP-C treatment is so high that the 3rd world may as well not know it exists. My spouse deals with the cost of Self-Insured business and the cost of continued research is kinda built onto the system; Cost shifting– (buyers of insurance get charged big $ but hospitals pay to fix anyone) to the patent Rx to market; ROI is a fiction when a 10 year span of research is factored in.
The reason for me saying what i know now? I won’t be distracted later. Somebody will say I’m just a tool of Big-Rx. Well, bummer. Nobody gets off this rock alive.
Note:Late 1990’s etanercept [trademark name here] was $3000 a month forever. Today $ per month is lower, lab work is same [doctor stuff] Public doesn’t see the overall savings in reduced damage to body, quality of life, and so on unless it is happening to them. It’s not the patent that is broken, policy in Washington DC is. {see flu vaccine manufacturing support).
Rx trade in North America is shameful; Canada won’t poison buyers, buying from website in southeast asia might. Manufacturing under license = oversight.
/some opinions may vary
Remember that viruses are the only thing never to suffer extinction. Useful little critters– loading mp3.
Listening to the 'cast twice and I'm maybe half right
Half right? Sure. History is full of colorful people that built petrochemical business. All were slapped with controls by governments trying to limit industry post WW1. Then the market crash made petrochemical a swear word. So the oil industry forked to plastics and agro chemicals. Consumers are happy — pre WWII.
WWII put pharma on center stage. The well known manufactures of medical compounds grew to big for regulators to sit and do nothing. Must-Be-Effective money pit created by FDA was the spark that lit up patent debate.
I still stand on “policy” is the problem — Trade agreements and giving generic manufacturing rights to Africa without fees is a start. The only sure bet in making medicine is the research will go on no matter what — The big names own everything thanks to FDA.
Still a better system than Elixir method.
Review
I mean health care insurance top money payouts. I’m saying 1 & 2 don’t cure,just manage. I have ben told that HEP-C treatment is so high that the 3rd world may as well not know it exists. My spouse deals with the cost of Self-Insured business and the cost of continued research is kinda built onto the system; Cost shifting– (buyers of insurance get charged big $ but hospitals pay to fix anyone) to the patent Rx to market; ROI is a fiction when a 10 year span of research is factored in. https://www.dgcustomerfirst.page/
The reason for me saying what i know now? I won’t be distracted later. Somebody will say I’m just a tool of Big-Rx. Well, bummer. Nobody gets off this rock alive.
Note:Late 1990’s etanercept [trademark name here] was $3000 a month forever. Today $ per month is lower, lab work is same [doctor stuff] Public doesn’t see the overall savings in reduced damage to body, quality of life, and so on unless it is happening to them. It’s not the patent that is broken, policy in Washington DC is.