If they target diseases that affect affluent people, or people living in countries with national health insurance, they will be able to patent any new drugs they discover. For the 20 years that the patent lasts, they will have a monopoly on the drug’s sale and be able to command a high price.
如果制药公司针对的疾病仅仅是困扰那些付不起高药价的人，那就无望收回研发成本，更妄谈盈利了。无论药厂的总监们多么地想致力于开发针对于人类生命最大杀手的药品，现有的财务回报体系却意味着，如果他们这样做，股东们就会抛弃他们，或公司不久就会倒闭，这样的结果对谁都没有好处。所以说，问题是出在体系上，而不是出在因体系做出选择的人。