Healthy Skepticism Library item: 9621

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Smith GT.
Use of generic medicines and importance of brand names. Part 2. Importance of brand names for pharmaceutical innovation
Pharmaceutical Journal 1986 Aug 30; 237:242-243

Abstract:

Statistical evidence supporting the hypothesis that patent protection for brand name drugs is necessary to fund research and development programs within the pharmaceutical industry is presented. The analysis is based on National Health Service drug data from 1970-1984 and shows the changing positions of the leading prescription medicines over the years. A quantitative picture of the way in which the typical sales of a new medicine develop, reach a peak and then eventually decline is shown; patent length is discussed in relation to this cycle.