WHY DRUG COMPANIES ARE NOT ALWAYS THE BAD GUYS HERE

I know that pharmaceutical companies rake in a lot of money. I know that a lot of CEOs there have huge salaries. I know that pharmaceutical drugs are expensive.

But I also know something about the research that comes before the drug is marketed.

I was lucky enough to work for a research pharmaceutical company that was just starting out in Baltimore about 18 years ago.

We were working out a little crowded office. We used a lot of recycled things, not all new and fresh from the office supply store. Our research facilities were in the back - they weren't fancy. And we could never acknowledge that they were in the back - because the animal rights activists would come and march in front.

And that's what the research takes - someone has an idea, or an area (ours was brain cancer), and then begins working with different chemicals - different ways to attack the cancer/disease/affliction.


And that takes YEARS... and YEARS.... and YEARS. 

With no income coming in.

The research is existing on grants from the government - from private individuals - foundations - charities.

All everyone, EVERYONE, keeping their fingers crossed.

Through all the research - the clinical trials - the years it takes to get it FDA approved.

And the, and ONLY then, does the drug go into production... and begins to get sold.

And some of that money begins to come back.

Yes - people make money with pharmaceutical drugs.

Finally.

And if they didn't, then there would never, NEVER be new drugs out on the market.

Look at some of these websites: 


 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_development
http://www.phrma.org/sites/default/files/pdf/rd_brochure_022307.pdf