<i>Of course there would. We had drug development before we had patents.</i><p>Really?  Can you provide an example?<p>From what I understand patents started in the US shortly after formation of the country.  The first drugs discovered didn&#x27;t happen until the late 1800&#x27;s.<p>In fact, the names of many of these drugs were &quot;Dr. Smith&#x27;s patented flu medication&quot;.