Read the final paragraph again. This is an example of market Capitalism at work.

The initial idea may have come out of a publicly funded university, but to ever bring this drug (or any other) to market, they will need to find investors willing to put up the capital necessary to put the drug through the test phases.

I'm sure if the drug has any real potential it will be developed in the United States by a start-up drug company. Of which this doctor/scientist will probably be a key business director...Then if it gets past the trial stages, which takes Millions of dollars and years of double blind tests...First on Animals, then on humans...Then a large drug company will buy it from the start-up company (or they will buy the entire start-up company) taking the rights to mass produce and market the drug... The reason this will probably take place in the US is obvious: The US is where the capital markets/investors are who are willing to put up the risk capital...

If it all works out, in about 10 years the the University will get royaltees and the drug company will make money (assuming there is a large enough market for the drug)...That will last something like 17 years at which time the paten will expire, and the drug is virtually worthless from an investment standpoint: No more valuable than the formula for asprin. (perhaps less because its use would be much less widespread).

Most drug candidates never make it through the initial steps in this process because of the costs of government regulation in the area...Which is bad because undoubtedly some of the drugs would help some people...But it is also good because it it were a simple and inexpensive process then you would get a lot more bad drugs through the pipeline with the good.

I wish them luck. It sounds extreemly interesting.

Scott Evil

Scott Evil