Verified Document

Patents In The Pharmaceutical Industry: Economics Term Paper

Patents in the Pharmaceutical Industry Intellectual property theft through piracy and counterfeiting has risen dramatically over the last couple of decades. As a result, the level of activity of pirates and counterfeiters has increased, and so has the scale of organizations participating in the same. The pharmaceutical industry, which forms the basis of this text, has been widely affected; more than "90% of donor-funded HIV medicines" in the market today are generic (ITPC Factsheet, n.d., p. 1). Patents are a major instrument in the enforcement of intellectual property rights.

What exactly do patents protect in the pharmaceutical industry?

A patent on a drug gives the owner, in this case the inventing pharmaceutical company, the exclusive "right to prevent others from making, using, importing, or selling it" (Elliott & Bonin, 2002, p. 1). Intellectual property law was incorporated into the global trading system with the 2005 passage of the TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) legislation, which offers protection to the patent rights of pharmaceutical entities by prohibiting generic companies from manufacturing patented drugs (Elliott & Bonin, 2002).

Why are some industries more vulnerable to patent right violation than others?

The pharmaceutical, music,...

However, these are also the most profitable industries in the world today, way ahead of all other sectors (Elliott & Bonin, 2002). With regard to the pharmaceutical industry, the costs of production are high, given the amount of research and development involved. However, the fixed costs are covered by the fact that the industry operates on a global scale, and enjoys massive scale economies. The variable costs, on the other hand, given the significance of the industries, are often covered by public subsidies through both direct government investment and tax breaks for research. This implies that the marginal costs of production are relatively low, and hence the price-cost margin is significantly high. It is these high profit margins that attract new entrants in the form of copyrighters and pirates; and as is the case in the model of perfect competition, competiveness is determined by the entrants' ability to copy the incumbents' production.
What should the pharmaceutical companies do in this situation?

One of the crucial goals of the Treatment 2.0 Agenda has got to do with the development of "cheaper drugs; fixed- dose ARV combinations that are easier to take, have fewer side effects, and which minimize…

Sources used in this document:
References

Elliott, R. & Bonin, M. (2002). Patents International Trade Law and Access to Essential Medicines. University of Michigan Library. Retrieved 19 July 2014 from http://www.umich.edu/~spp638/Coursepack/ipr-msf.pdf

ITPC Factsheet. (n.d.). Treatment 2.0: The Facts for Community-Based Service Providers and AIDS Advocates. International Treatment Preparedness Coalition. Retrieved 19 July 2014 from http://www.itpcglobal.org/atomic-documents/11057/20005/4-Trade%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Economics of the Pharmaceutical Industry
Words: 3522 Length: 10 Document Type: Thesis

Since its inception, the Food and Drug act developed into the Food and Drug Administration, which is responsible for oversight and administration of the rules. Once an application to test a new drug compound has been approved, it must pass a series of tests. Only about 23% of all drug compounds that enter into Phase I ever make it through this phase and into the second phase (Scherer, 2000). This

Pharmaceuticals Industry Political and Social
Words: 1647 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

There are two constant irritations in U.S. pharma companies' relationships internationally: Some developing nations, such as India, Brazil and South Africa, are chipping away at the patent situation, trying to shorten the time until the drugs can be brought out in generic form. The U.S. has supported high prices as the cost for innovation. Since other countries are not playing along, this means that their citizens are benefiting from the innovation paid

Pfizer the Economics of the Pharmaceutical Industry
Words: 1588 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

Pfizer The Economics of the Pharmaceutical Industry -- Focus on Pfizer Drugs Specify on some background of the company According to its official website, Pfizer Incorporated "discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets leading prescription medicines for humans and animals and many of the world's best-known consumer brands. Our innovative, value-added products improve the quality of life of people around the world and help them enjoy longer, healthier, and more productive lives. The company has

Corporate Social Responsibility in Indian Pharmaceutical Industry
Words: 10268 Length: 32 Document Type: Dissertation

Corporate Social Responsibility in Indian Pharmaceutical Industry An Exploratory Study Outlook of CSR in India History of CSR in India Philanthropy in Indian Society Modern Form of CSR in Indian Society Profile of Indian Pharmaceutical Industry Rationale for Selection CSR Activities by Indian Pharmaceutical Companies Major Influences Over CSR Activities Scope of CSR Activities Comparison of Indian & Western Pharmaceutical Companies This research paper is concerned with the recent practices of Indian pharmaceutical companies in the field of corporate social responsibility. For

Pharmaceutical Property Intellectual and Tangible
Words: 825 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

New communication technologies require stricter scrutiny, as well. The threat of reprisal is the most effective measure against intellectual property right infringements, and for this reason one of the most essential actions that can be taken in this regard -- and frequently is -- is the filing of civil and criminal charges against companies that infringe upon these rights in an aggressive and uncompromising manner (Long 2000). This not

Pharmaceutical Companies Intellectual Property and the Global AIDS...
Words: 2358 Length: 8 Document Type: Research Paper

Pharmaceutical Companies, Intellectual Property, and the Global AIDS Epidemic For this case study, six questions had been asked. The first one is: Should pharmaceutical companies distribute drugs at low cost in third world countries? What are the pros and cons of such an approach? The second one is: What are the principal arguments of pharma companies who oppose making exception to IPR laws for developing countries? What are the arguments by

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now