Compromise on length of pharmaceutical companies’ monopolies on unique drugs could create two tracks on future drug pricing,insider saysA dozen Pacific countries closed in on a sweeping free trade pact on Sunday in Atlanta, after a breakthrough over how long a monopoly pharmaceutical companies should be given on unique biotech drugs.
The issue has pitted the US, or which argued for longer protections,against Australia and five other delegations which said such measures would strain national healthcare budgets and keep life-saving medicines from patients who cannot afford them.
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Source: theguardian.com