A Prescription for New Drugs

previously fatal conditions, such as bacterial infections. Vaccines now shield us from viral and bacterial diseases like polio. Even conditions that were considered fatal until recently, such as HIV/AIDS, today no longer carry an automatic death sentence. The pharmaceutical industry has driven the development of various drugs since the early 20th century. During this period, due to its role in the development of numerous drugs, Germany earned itself the moniker of “pharmacy to the world” and became a model for the sector in many other countries. However, considering the overall contribution of the pharmaceutical industry’s products to the wellbeing of the population, it’s surprising how unpopular the sector is. Surveys reveal that car manufacturers, for example, are held in much higher esteem. The pharmaceutical industry is viewed as rich, powerful and devious. Admittedly, this reputation isn’t entirely undeserved. Denouncing its transgressions and preventing future mistakes is clearly the right thing to do. However, criticism of Bayer, Sanofi and other companies must not cause us to lose sight of the bigger picture. The development of the pharmaceutical sector is a cause for concern. At the global level, the pharmaceutical industry is in the throes of a huge crisis that has been under way for a decade. Though the pharmaceutical giants are still pulling in big profits, they are increasingly cannibalizing their own scientific substance. The question arises here, of course, as to whether the wellbeing of very profitable companies should really be of concern to society. But the fact is that work on the development of new drugs and vaccines is waning – a situation that is clearly a matter of concern for the general public. The problem has its roots in the fact that drug development is an increasingly risky and therefore expensive business. The costs currently range between 500 million and 1.3 billion euros per drug or vaccine. There are many reasons for this explosion in costs. First, the “simple” drugs are already available on the During the 20th century, the pharmaceutical industry made crucial strides in