Re:Told to remove blog posts describing patented algorithm
by loup-vaillant on Thursday July 08, 2010 @10:29AM
(#1497430)
> It is lazy thinking to conclude from this that they are not necessary now.
Correct. We may want to test for that, if at all possible. Also, if we manage to reduce the costs of clinical trials, we may make that point moot. But in the end, I fear we will have to set priorities, and make compromises. I just hope that it will be based on rational judgements, instead of political stances alone.
Re:Told to remove blog posts describing patented algorithm
by binaryfinery on Thursday July 08, 2010 @02:24PM
(#1498274)
Simple explanation: patents and the FDA represent barriers to entry for new competitors. Costs going up just means more money spent within the industry, and more profit to be taken later. Costs (and profits) going up are a consequence of patents and regulation, not the other way around. Remove patents and regulation and watch costs plummet.
Re:Told to remove blog posts describing patented algorithm
by loup-vaillant on Friday July 09, 2010 @03:50AM
(#1500087)
Well, we could remove patents, but removing (or lightening) regulation may be a bit more tricky: you wouldn't want Big Pharma to release something that's more a poison than a medication.
Re:Told to remove blog posts describing patented algorithm
by binaryfinery on Friday July 09, 2010 @02:18PM
(#1501626)
And how has regulation changed this? What extra laws do we need in place to make sure companies don't kill people other than "dont kill people"?
Re:Told to remove blog posts describing patented algorithm
by loup-vaillant on Friday July 09, 2010 @05:15PM
(#1502243)
> And how has regulation changed this?
I don't know. Nor am I aware of any study which shows regulation's effects, or lack thereof. I'm just saying that if regulation has benefits, they should be compared to the drawbacks before we forfeit them. If it has no benefit, of course get rid of it.
Anyway, as I said, I don't know a thing about pharmaceutical regulations. If you do, a few pointers would be welcome.
"the total cost of bringing a new drug to market [is] around $800 million, in year 2000 dollars... [T]his figure suggests a spectacular increase in the cost of innovating. This increase is due, mostly, to the capitalization of the longer and more expensive clinical trials the FDA requires."
It may well be that patents were not always necessary for drug development. It is lazy thinking to conclude from this that they are not necessary now.