E-DRUG: Financing drug research and development
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Dear E-Druggers:
Discussion of research costs leading to new drugs at the bedside
must differentiate research from development. Currently much research
funding comes from public and philanthropic sources. Once the research has
come to a point where there is a specific molecule to turn into an
available medicine, the subsequent development is usually by private
for-profit drug companies. The resources needed to carry out this
development including Phases ll and lll are substantial. Unexpected
toxicity seen in phase lll can preclude approval after all these costs have
been paid. I do not agree with the current marketing, advertising, and
promotional practices of many companies in the industry. I do not agree
with attempts to develop "me too" products hoping that the marketing
department of the company can then get a share of the market. I think that
the prices of many medicines are higher than can be justified. But
development of new medicines is currently funded from revenues of the for
profit drug companies. A comprehensive program to affect the prices of
medications must address the source of funding for product development and
registration as well as the source of funding for the research if we are to
get the new medicines that the world needs.
Marcus M. Reidenberg
Marcus M. Reidenberg, MD, FACP
Professor of Pharmacology, Medicine, and Public Health
Head, Division of Clinical Pharmacology
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Attending Physician, New York Presbyterian Hospital
Editor Emeritus, Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
1300 York Ave., Box 70
New York, NY 10021
e-mail mmreid@med.cornell.edu
phone (212) 746-6227
fax (212) 746-8835