Heavily in research and development of new drugs is "true lies"

According to "news" reported that in the United States, could not afford the medicine is a universal phenomenon. The pharmaceutical industry has a convenient: the high cost of research and development, drug prices are not high will lose money. Facts of the case? Harvard Medical School researchers Mathea · Angel's new book the truth about the pharmaceutical industry, the pharmaceutical industry is not heavily invested in the development of new medicine!

A pill sold hundreds of dollars

United States of prescription drug prices for grain, each up to dozens or even hundreds of dollars. It is reported that United States consumers each year on prescription drug spending up to $ 2000, and also in the annual growth rate of 12%.

Mathea has served as the New England Journal of medicine, is currently the editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Medical School Department of community medicine, senior lecturer. Mathea told reporters that the pharmaceutical industry profits has been higher than any other industry. In 2002, Fortune 500 companies in the top 10 pharmaceutical companies profit sum more than other 490 companies profit sum reached 2170 billion, profit is 17% and other enterprises of medium profitability only 3.1%.

Pharmaceutical companies declare that they provide the market with a new drug, the average cost is $ 8.2, inhibiting drug prices would disrupt research and development, innovation, stifling. Mathea told reporters that "regardless of pharmaceutical companies to invest in research and development on how much money, as long as their marketing costs and higher research and development costs remaining profits, it cannot be said that the high prices paid for the research and development for new drugs. ”

Data show that the pharmaceutical industry spent the money on research and development is only 14% of sales, and marketing and managing the money you up 31%. One company reported that its total cost of 85% is spent on marketing.

Old drugs switched to "new drugs"

Mathea revealed that "global pharmaceutical companies have no choice, they did not produce important new drug, but the market has changed slightly for the drug, the drug is referred to simulate sexual drug. "For example, in 1998 to 2003, a total of 6 years 487 new drug into the market, but according to the United States food and Drug Administration (FDA) of classification, of which 78% of the drug may not be higher than the market has the effect of the drug. In addition, one of the 68% even does not contain a new chemical composition.

In the best-selling drug patent expiration time to create a "new drugs" is a lot of the practice of pharmaceutical companies. In 2001, the United Kingdom listing the AstraZeneca for the treatment of gastric ulcer drug Nexium, because the drug treatment of gastric ulcer best-selling Prilosec patent is about to expire. In fact, both are basically the same thing.