Politics of Pharmaceuticals

Question 1

How many drugs have been approved between … and …? How many have therapeutic gains?

Answer 1

1978 - 1989: 34/218

Question 2

Since mid 1990s, what is the % of new drugs that do not have therapeutic gains?

Answer 2

85-90%

Question 3

How much (%) new drugs does the FDA approve today?

Answer 3

74%

Question 4

Names Pharma

Answer 4

L: none
R: Light, Angell, Muenning

Question 5

R: Pharma
L…: 10
M…: 7

Answer 5

Light: - Innovation crisis since 2006

• Biotechnology revolution changed strategies for drug dev
• New medicine, no clinical advantages (34/218 btwn 1978 1989)
• % new drugs with no clinical gains
• real innovation crisis
• epidemics of adverse reactions = money
• Angell: 4/5 funds for research from public sources
• exagerate cost of dev, not mentioning revenue return
• need stop approving so many drugs, today …%
• no patents =

Muenning: - patent owning companies

• questions about validity of research and true innovation
• “me too drugs”
• “blockbuster”
• ex:
• MICs and generics (Brazil)
• Intellectual property rights in LMICs