Drug Companies, their Patenting Strategies and High-Cost Pharmaceuticals: An Empirical Investigation

Abstract

Pharmaceuticals are a vital part of clinical services that maintain and improve Australia's health; they are also costly, absorbing a substantial proportion of the national health expenditures. By conferring market protections, the patent system helps the manufacturers of pharmaceuticals to recoup the high costs of research associated with developing new products. Abuses of the patent system by pharmaceutical manufacturers have the potential to stifle competition and inappropriately raise the costs of pharmaceuticals to society. This innovative, cross-disciplinary, research will investigate the existence of abusive patents and, if necessary, propose reforms that will prevent further abuse an..

Related publications (1)

Patents Associated with High-Cost Drugs in Australia

Andrew F Christie, Chris Dent, Peter McIntyre, Lachlan Wilson, David M Studdert

2013-04-05