Problem
Expiry of drug patent
Other Names:
Loss of pharmaceutical monopoly Nature:
Drug companies depend on the sale of their patented drugs to recoup their large research costs. Only 1 in 35,000 new compounds becomes a commercial success, so much research goes into a new product. When a drug patent expires, the company sales drop in the wake of competition with other companies that now may make the same drug. The prospect of an important patent expiring encourages mergers with other pharmaceutical companies. Broader Problems:
Exclusive proprietary systems Subject(s):
Commerce → Conditions of trade??Research, Standards → Patents, copyright??
Health Care → Pharmacy??
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
G: Very specific problems Date of last update
08.04.1999 – 00:00 CEST