Allowing more generic drugs on the market is seen as a way of lowering prescription drug prices. But strong patents are not the cause of rising drug cost, experts point out. In fact, while the prices of prescription drugs have been rising, patents have been growing weaker.
Various roadblocks in the system have reduced the length of time a branded drug maker is protected by patent law.
Few generic companies develop new drugs. But branded companies plough profits back into research on new medicines. So cutting patent times further will eventually crimp research budgets.
Source: Scott Gottlieb (American Enterprise Institute), Patent Mistakes, Wall Street Journal, October 23, 2002.
For text (WSJ subscribers)
For more on Brand Name Drugs Vs. Generics http://www.ncpa.org/iss/hea
FMF Policy Bulletin\29 October 2002
