"But consider this; the vast majority of medicines associated with new drug patents are not new. Nearly 8 out of 10 are for existing ones, like insulin or aspirin.
My organisation, a team of lawyers and scientists, recently conducted an investigation into the 12 best-selling drugs in [US]America. We found that on average, there are 125 patents filed on each medicine. Often for things we've known how to do for decades ..."
#PritiKrishtel, 2020
"Humira is [US]America's top-selling drug, and it treats rheumatoid arthritis ... AbbVie, the company [set up to hold patents on Humira] ... had filed for 247 patents on this drug, at the time the report was released in 2018, and 136 ... had been granted.
... because of that lengthened monopoly period ... the cost to [US]Americans is at least an extra US$14 billion."
#PritiKrishtel, Co-Executive Director, I-MAK, 2020