Are Patents to Blame for High Drug Prices?

IPWatchdog Unleashed

Our conversation today is with Corey Salsberg, who is the Vice President and Global Head of IP Affairs for Novartis, which is one of the world’s leading and more innovative biopharmaceutical companies.
During a wide ranging that goes for just over an hour, we discuss whether patents are to blame for high drug prices, and if not what is the real driver of drug prices in America. Ultimately, the conclusion is there are several things to blame, but placing blame on patents and exclusive rights is misguided and naive.
We also discuss recent attempts by the government to place price controls on the pharmaceuticals most widely used by seniors on Medicare, and why the so-called “negotiation” that the government claims will take place is nothing more than what lawyers call gun at the head duress, and nothing at all like a fair negotiation.