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It's PR by large drug companies because it's recently been making world news that these companies are pushing for world trade agreements that would extend their patents on drugs to places like Africa, which would make generic drugs illegal to people who can't even afford the generic drugs.Quote:
Originally Posted by stormy
Wow, enough money to keep 100 patients alive for a month, stop the fucking presses. Drug companies can eat a bag of dicks. Stop with the positive PR attempt, it insults us all.
This is like mcdonalds giving $.10 from the sale of every mcwhatever to some token charity.
They probably spent more than $100k on the PR campaign.
lolQuote:
Originally Posted by SpoDaddy
Patents in general are out of hand. Software designs, chemicals, and even existing DNA sequences are being patented like crazy, and it's only going to stifle innovation in the long run, since smaller companies will eventually be forced out by the high cost of patent licensing. I don't think patents should be done away with entirely, since the originator of an idea should be given some competitive edge with it, but patents need to expire faster, especially when they're not being actively developed.
I'm surprised McD's hasn't tried to patent the cheeseburger. Shit, they probably nave.
The saddest thing about it all is that most of that money will probably go right back into their pockets.
Meant to say places like Africa, typo. I think the solution is to exclude patent law from industries that are directly crucial to human life (such as pharmeceuticals) in cases where a patient cannot possibly afford to pay. Allow governments to sell generic versions of drugs, at cost, to people that it can be proven cannot afford to pay for them normally. As long as there is tight oversight to prevent fraud this shouldn't hurt drug companies at all, since they're not losing sales. It should help them, since they'd be regarded as heroes for discovering new drugs that all people can then benefit from. They could probably avoid paying taxes altogether if such a law went into effect.
They tried in the late 1960's/early 1970's and failed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mykozo
I remember back when red meant artificial cherry flavor. I liked that meaning better.Quote:
Originally Posted by stormy
Fer reals. After seeing enough ads, I almost want to run out and get herpes. Life with herpes is being a hot, white, middle-upper class 20-something frollicking on the beach, apparently.Quote:
Originally Posted by icarusfall
Are you kidding? A cure for something like that would be massive. Huge PR boosts, government grants out the ass, and they'd have a patent on the cure. The problem is that we don't even know how to cure a cold... viruses just elude us, for whatever reason, and that's what HIV and Hepatitis happen to be.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gohron
It's not a big conspiracy keeping us from finding cures to these diseases. We just have no idea how to cure them yet.
*Commander, we're picking up incomming squibb on the radar. 20...30...no. Jesus, there must be at least 80 squibb. Range 52 megameters and closing. Fast.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChaoofNee
-No. It can't...it can't end like this. Not after.... DAMN SQUIBB!
*Long-range sensors are gathering data. At the front of the formation...it's. Oh dear God, they've got an omnicron squibb. 48 megameters and closing.
-So, doctor, now do you regret advising the panel to shut down the squibb project?
>I regret nothing. The squibb project was misguided and ineffective. Something had to be said. I stand by my beliefs.
-With 80 squibb out there, you may have to die for your beliefs.
>We all must die. Someday.
*Commander! Squibb at 37 megameters and still closing. What do we do?
-This ends here! *slams fist* John, we do the only thing we can do.
*No! We can't!
-We can and we must. And may God have mercy on our souls.
*But...
>He's right, John.
*Bastard squibb.... BASTARD SQUIBB!!! YAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! *pulls lever*