1. On pages 5 and 6 the author describes how consumer choice is far less than in other industries. What arguments does he use to make this case?
2. What is the difference between a breakthrough drug and a “me-too” drug?
3. What is meant by the term “generic drug”?
4. What is meant by the term “line-extensions” when referring to drug patents?
5. What is their effect?
6. The author states that no one drug company contains a very large share of the world pharmaceutical market. Does this result in a high level of competition among drug manufacturers? Explain.
7. What is a blockbuster drug?
8. What type of markets do pharmaceutical companies typically target?
9. What types of markets are often ignored?
10.Why was Malarone developed?
1. Describe the different stages of drug trials.
2. Why was the FDA created in the United States?
3. Why were the FDA’s powers increased in 1962?
4. What government organization in Canada tests and approves new drugs?
5. Why was the patent system developed?
6. What type of patents cover drugs?
7. The author states that “extended patent length can inhibit innovation”. Why is this?
1. Did the mergers in the drug industry provide result in a growth in research and development of new drugs?
2. What is TRIPS and TRIPS-PLUS?
3. Why did government regulation of the drug industry change in Canada in 1969?
4. How did the Canadian government’s compulsory licensing system work?
5. What benefits did it produce for the public? For the government?
6. How did the government of Prime Minister Mulroney deal with government regulation of the pharmaceutical industry?
7. How did Jean Chrétien’s government change the drug regulations?
8. What effect do these regulations have on a generic drug getting to market?
1. How did the South African government, the US government and the pharmaceutical industry act to deal with the AIDS crisis in South Africa?
2. How do drug companies price their drugs?
3. According to the author, why have prices of new computers dropped dramatically, while the prices of new drugs have gone up?
1. Does the presence of a generic drug on the market automatically lead to a large drop in price?
2. What are the four features of a drug that can be patented?
3. How do companies stretch the time they have exclusive rights to sell a drug?
1. Apart from research costs, what are some other major expenses of drug companies?
2. Do these other costs help produce new drugs?
3. In what ways are the R&D costs exaggerated by Big Pharma?
4. What R&D costs do not produce innovative drugs?
5. In what ways do governments subsidize Big Pharma?
6. When government pays for much of the research costs in the U.S., does this lead to lower drug prices?
1. How is marketing driving up costs?
2. Do 43% of all women experience sexual dysfunction?
3. What ethical issues are posed by this article?
1. What changes are medical journal editors instituting?
2. Why is this being done?