Sustainable development market access

In Part IV, we turn to the issue of patents and pharmaceuticals. Adam Mannan and Alan Story argue that drug access could be improved if product patents were abolished. They argue that even if a process patent is present, competitors can find alternative processes or uses for the chemical compound and create price competition. To further support their argument, the authors explain how the patent system was created not because it had to create conditions for sustainable innovation, but for market protection. They note that, until recently, few countries even recognized pharmaceutical product patents and some countries, such as India, were able to develop a thriving industry as a result of the absence of product patents. 

---