Modulating the profit motive to meet needs of the less-developed world.
The success, despite the problems, of academic/industrial collaborations over the past decade owes much to the profit motive. However, market-driven research and development has little to offer patients in the less-developed world. Some flexibility has already been demonstrated on drugs for orphan (rare or under-researched) diseases. Many diseases in less-developed countries are not rare. Academic researchers should be encouraging the establishment of funding for basic and clinical research that is directed at patients' needs in the less-developed world and that is independent of a commercial ethos.
Schieppati
A
A
Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Bergamo, Italy.
Remuzzi
G
G
Garattini
S
S
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000191:economics*; D035843:Biomedical Research; D003906:Developing Countries; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D009965:Orphan Drug Production / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012106:Research / Q000191:economics*; D014944:World Health Organization