PhRMA-Dynasty: How to Provide Antiretroviral Access to Developing Nations while Aligning Research Incentives for Pharmaceutical Companies in the Form of Profit and Intellectual Property Protection

Abstract

The AIDS revolution has led to shockingly high rates of mortality in the developing world. Governments of developing and developed nations alike are on high alert, attempting to design appropriate strategies to combat the disease effectively. Within the international community, humanitarian organizations, NGO’s, and governments have all focused on the issue of treatment. However, treatment programs have reached an impasse due to trade agreements utilized to ensure respect for property rights, with the residual effect of increased pharmaceutical profit. The patent protection afforded to multinational pharmaceuticals by the TRIPS Agreement has served as an obstacle in improving access to life-sustaining medications and has posed a significant challenge to many global institutions and the states working on behalf of these institutions. Whether taking the approach of a human rights activist, an economist, the World Trade Organization, or a pharmaceutical researcher, the attainment of the highest possible standard of health must be the ultimate goal.