We Don't Need Patent Monopolies to Finance Vaccine Research

[Sam1]

It is amazing that a lengthy piece in the NYT discussing the high cost of new vaccines and the efforts of companies to promote them never discussed the possibility of alternatives to patent monopolies as a way to finance the research. Until recent years, most vaccines actually were developed with public funding, so obviously it is possible.

http://www.cepr.net/index.php/blogs/beat-the-press/we-dont-need-patent-monopolies-to-finance-vaccine-research?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+beat_the_press+%28Beat+the+Press%29

[bemildred]

1. The profit motive probably gets in the way a good deal.

Both by misallocation of resources and by introducing confirmation biases into "important" studies. Not to mention to motivation to discredit important but financially threatening new developments.

[Sam1]

2. Especially when the profiters can buy the government.

[bemildred]

3. Yeah, they have waaaay too much power.

Last edited Sat Jul 5, 2014, 09:16 AM - Edit history (1)

Just consider the enduring racist folly of the drug war. Like drugs could be evil or good. Approved drugs and disapproved drugs. It's nuts, and it sure as hell is not science.