I’m the first to admire the strengths and virtues of the free-enterprise model as it applies to drug development and sales. This model encourages drug companies to employ talented people and to take risks in developing new drugs for serious medical problems. But let’s face it, current practices also produce undesirable effects.
1. When their drug that was wonderful last month is suddenly no good.
It’s been entertaining to watch the drug companies suddenly come up with new, patentable variations of their drugs just when their old patents are expiring. For example, since the 1970s, the Abbott company has been doing a dance with different formulations of valproic acid (used for seizures, migraines and bipolar disorder). At first, the brand name was Depakene, but when that patent ran out, Depakene was suddenly no good any more, and Depakote (just barely different enough to be patentable) was the only drug one should think of. Then when Depakote’s patent ran out, suddenly it wasn’t any good, either. Now Depakote ER (extended release) is the only way to fly.
This approach of reworking the old drug into longer-acting formats...
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