Medicinal Chemistry

Question 0

Why is profit a good reason to make pharmaceuticals?

Answer 0

Profits in global pharmaceutics are rising in inflation levels and are rapidly changing.
Many countries not buying more. US spends the most

Question 1

What are the three main reasons company’s continue to make pharmaceuticals?

Answer 1

Profit
Need
Threat

Question 2

Why does the USA the largest market?

Answer 2

This is in some part to do with population, but also because drugs are purchased at full price and not heavily subsidised like it is in most of Europe, uk and NZ

There is also no large scale public health structure. Although insurance subsidises full cost, when the insurance costs are added onto the drug costs, this works out at roughly full price.

Question 3

What are the top selling drug classes?

Answer 3

Oncologies
Respiratory agents
Anti diabetics
Lipid regulators
Antipsychotics 
Angiotensin II inhibitors
Anti ulcer /acid pump inhibitors
Autoimmune agents (immunosuppressants)
Antidepressants
HIV antiviral a

Question 4

What are the top 10 individual selling drugs?

Answer 4

Lipitor (atorvastatin)
Plavix (clopidogrel)
Seretide (salmeterol and fluticasone)
Crestor (rosuvastatin)
Nexium (esomeprazole)
Seroquel (quetiapine)
Humira (adalimuab)
Enbrel (etanercept)
Remicade (infliximab)
Abilify (aripiprazole)

Question 5

Why are drugs subsidised in nz?

Answer 5

PHARMAC cn deal directly with suppliers to negotiate lower prices,
However not all medicines are subsidised and the use of generic medicines is preferred

Question 6

What are the downsides of subsidisation by PHARMAC?

Answer 6

For rare diseases requiring drugs not taken by the general population, these will not be subsidised and requires the full price to be paid

Question 7

Why is need a sufficient motivator for production of pharmaceutics?

Answer 7

There may be no current treatments for many diseases, therefore there is a moral and financial reason to discover new therapeutics in these areas.

E.g. Many viral infections, many forms of cancer, most degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, alzheimers, etc.

Question 8

Why is threat a good motivator for the production of pharmaceutics?

Answer 8

Many infections microorganisms are rapidly becoming resistant to most of the currently available antibiotics. E.g. Staph aureus, MRSA, and TB

Virulent viruses also threaten to mutate and cause epidemics e.g. HIV, Lassa fever, Ebola, hanta

Bird flu is also now a major concern.