Comments on: DRUG IMPORTATION = LESS INNOVATION http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/12/14/drug-importation-less-innovation/ Cleaning the Augean Stables of the Health Care Debate Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:03:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Catron http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/12/14/drug-importation-less-innovation/#comment-12427 Catron Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:54:02 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/12/14/drug-importation-less-innovation/#comment-12427 Marc, the "progressive" position on drug-reimportation is utterly incoherent. You guys are always caterwalling about NAFTA and CAFTA. But, when it comes to importing Canadian price controls, you're suddenly free traders. Now that's "funny." Marc, the “progressive” position on drug-reimportation is utterly incoherent. You guys are always caterwalling about NAFTA and CAFTA. But, when it comes to importing Canadian price controls, you’re suddenly free traders. Now that’s “funny.”

]]> By: Marc Brown http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/12/14/drug-importation-less-innovation/#comment-12422 Marc Brown Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:43:44 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/12/14/drug-importation-less-innovation/#comment-12422 Funny how the land of the free has some of the most restrictive free trade policies on the planet. Funny how the land of the free has some of the most restrictive free trade policies on the planet.

]]> By: Rich http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/12/14/drug-importation-less-innovation/#comment-12421 Rich Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:31:56 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/12/14/drug-importation-less-innovation/#comment-12421 I wonder if drug importation would decrease the likelihood/willingness of pharma to submit NDAs in the US, or change the timing of the submission in the US or the equivalent abroad. Assuming that the R&D costs for a US NDA exceed those for a Canadian equivalent, where is the pont of diminishing returns to pharma? I wonder if drug importation would decrease the likelihood/willingness of pharma to submit NDAs in the US, or change the timing of the submission in the US or the equivalent abroad.

Assuming that the R&D costs for a US NDA exceed those for a Canadian equivalent, where is the pont of diminishing returns to pharma?

]]> By: drmatt http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/12/14/drug-importation-less-innovation/#comment-12416 drmatt Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:34:27 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/12/14/drug-importation-less-innovation/#comment-12416 Agree, drug importation will likely have no long term effect on cost, however I donot see how importation will change R&D or innovation (psuedo innovation really) as the pharmacuetical industry is in if for the $$$$, they cant get the cashola without comming up with new stuff as thier patents run out on thier old new stuff. Maybe the effect would be that they stop researching and develping "me too" drugs which is how they make most of thier money, let's face it how many proton pump inhibitors do we need? These are standard market forces, they see a drug that is making greenbacks and they develop one that does the same thing because they know there is a market for it, no risk really, but not really innovation either. Agree, drug importation will likely have no long term effect on cost, however I donot see how importation will change R&D or innovation (psuedo innovation really) as the pharmacuetical industry is in if for the $$$$, they cant get the cashola without comming up with new stuff as thier patents run out on thier old new stuff. Maybe the effect would be that they stop researching and develping “me too” drugs which is how they make most of thier money, let’s face it how many proton pump inhibitors do we need? These are standard market forces, they see a drug that is making greenbacks and they develop one that does the same thing because they know there is a market for it, no risk really, but not really innovation either.

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