Patent issues and future trends in drug development

Faiz Kermani
Pietro Bonacossa

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5912/jcb42

Abstract:

The global biopharmaceutical industry has been one of the most productive and profitable industrial sectors; however, the drug development process remains risky and expensive, with no guarantees of success. The industry believes that a system for the effective intellectual property protection is key to its ability to maintain innovation for drug development. But some critics think that the market exclusivity offered by patents simply allows companies to maximise profits without benefiting patients.

Social issues such as patient access to new AIDS treatments and political issues such as international trade agreements mean that the manner in which pharmaceutical companies operate at a business level is becoming subject to closer scrutiny.

Keywords:pharmaceutical R&D ,drug development ,access to medicine ,contract research organisation ,clinical trial ,patent ,intellectual property ,Trade-Related TRIPS ,World Trade Organization ,WTO ,AIDS ,en ,