Extending Drug Monopolies by Patenting Safe Drug Use

Abstract

In recent years, the price of the blockbuster narcolepsy drug sodium oxybate (Xyrem; Jazz Pharmaceuticals) has increased dramatically. Although its active ingredient was synthesized and tested in clinical trials more than 50 years ago, 1 the list price for a 0.

A Proposal to Increase Value and Equity in the Development and Distribution of New Pharmaceuticals

“…These companies are also incentivized to take out a series of patents, make minor changes to prolong patents, and even pay generic manufacturers to delay market entry. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Many new pharmaceuticals with promising market potential are either close copies or high-priced specialty drugs rather than innovations with wide benefit. 3 Competition incites expensive efforts to influence prescribers directly through office interactions (including providing samples), payments to private physicians involved in drug trials, and financing of medical meetings, as well as indirectly through direct-to-consumer marketing, especially over television.…”