Because isn’t it a hope that the Nations of this world view on the Euro: Germany Alone has deployed a total of 145 million euros, in addition to the normal research budget, in order to speed up the research on a vaccine.
But, who exactly is benefiting at the end of the taxpayers ‘ money, who gets access to the research results? And how can it be ensured that as many people as possible to come as quickly as possible to the new vaccine, without the greed for profit of the individual groups and power politics, selfish acting heads of government, the efficient distribution to all stand in the way?
On these issues, has spoken perspective Daily with Paul Schnase, who is committed to the students initiative, Universities Allied for Essential Medicine (UAEM) and for sustainable Pharma research.
“With the exclusive right to use the creation of monopolies”
Perspective Daily: , such As the funding for the research of new drugs and vaccines from running in General?
Paul Schnase: Particularly the medical research worldwide funded by public funds. Here in Germany, especially, are at the University clinics or in public research institutions such as the Max-Planck-societies or the Helmholtz centres.
Perspective Daily: universities and research institutions themselves, but no drugs. As is clear from the research results, so then a Drug that ends up at the end of the patient? Universities Allied for Essential Medicine (UAEM)
“UAEM” is a global Initiative of students, which campaigns for a fair and affordable access to essential medicines. Focus on the role of universities and public research institutions in the pharmaceutical research. The claim: transparency and socially responsible management of intellectual property from publicly funded research.
Paul Schnase: At the universities there are so-called technology transfer offices, industry partners looking to promising drug candidates to develop. Usually the University will then issue an exclusive license for the use of their research to the company. This entitles the partner company, later exclusively for the manufacture and sale of the drug or the vaccine.
Perspective Daily: what are the problems with this System?
Paul Schnase: With the exclusive right to use the Monopole with all of your night caused rush – even pricing. In the past there were already some cases in which pharmaceutical companies of their monopoly positions, have taken advantage of, most recently, for example in the case of the drug Zolgensma of the Swiss pharmaceutical group Novartis, the made as “the 2-million-Dollar-shot” headlines. Earlier, diplomatic sources said American headlines, a cure for Hepatitis C was made because a pill 700 euros, was more expensive than the same amount of Gold. But also supply bottlenecks and supply shortages can be a result. FOCUS-Online-action #corona care: Germany helps!
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“Publicly funded research must be of benefit to all”
Perspective Daily: What is the pharmaceutical companies, because even up to market maturity?
Paul Schnase: you need to Finance to licensing, the clinical trials on patients, which are undoubtedly cost a lot of money and the risks associated. At the end of the speech is usually from 1 to 2 billion dollars in development costs per new drug. This bill, however, is quite tricky, because you can not check simply. The corporations are not obliged to do so, a cost overview at the time of admission, which would be of course a sensible measure. So we can’t assume that you charge too much for their products, but you know how much of this is “too much” exactly.
Perspective Daily: Get the publicly-funded, research universities a fair share?
Paul Schnase: Casually said to get in the rule, only an Apple and an Egg for their licenses. The technology transfer offices report to us that they can cover the costs of these funds is often just their own staff. In addition, we are of the opinion that publicly funded research must also be for the benefit of all. In particular, when it comes to essential medicines. Therefore, we apply ourselves as students in our universities to ensure that essential medicines should be to grant any exclusive licenses.
Perspective Daily: which could mean the System of exclusive licenses in the worst case for the search for new drugs and vaccines against the novel Coronavirus?
Paul Schnase: Given the current pandemic, the exclusion of other manufacturer may be used for the rapid, global availability of vaccines and medicines, to highly dangerous. In the case of Corona, we will be faced with an unprecedented demand for vaccines and drugs, as the means of ad-hoc in their billions are needed everywhere in the world. No single company can afford, even if it wanted to. In addition, exorbitant prices to a vaccine or a drug, in particular for countries of the global South would be fatal and could prevent the treatment of patients. I need help I want to help
“Need to find a reasonable price to supply the best possible solutions for all people
Perspective Daily: can be” What needs to run, in your opinion, differently?
Paul Schnase: We want to obtain now that from the beginning, clear conditions linked to the allocation of funding to ensure that publicly-funded research results can be freely used. For the development of a Corona vaccine is this: We need to know at the end what the state and what is paid by the company to be able to at the end of a reasonable price to be able to all people around the world quickly.
Perspective Daily: How can it work?
Paul Schnase: The solution is “equitable licensing”: “fair licensing”. This model provides that for essential drugs from the outset, it is noted that the results of the research will not be licensed exclusively, but from different manufacturers can be used. Thus, affordable prices can be ensured in the world and problems can be reduced by supply shortages.
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