This book explores the fundamental and inextricable relationship between
regulation, intellectual property, competition laws, and public health
in prescription drugs markets, examining their interconnections and the
delicate balance between the various interests and policy goals at
stake.
Although pharmaceutical markets are heavily regulated and subject to
close antitrust scrutiny, there is a constant requirement for existing
rules and policies to tackle a number of persistent, complex issues. The
variety of anticompetitive practices occurring in this sector, the
worrying rise in drug prices, and major, far-reaching concerns over the
accessibility of medicines are sources of frequent controversy in
academic and policy debate. Understanding the unique features and
dynamics of the pharmaceutical industry requires a tailored and
multifaceted approach.
The study is enhanced by the adoption of a comparative perspective,
tracing convergence and divergence between EU and US systems through the
analysis of relevant applicable rules, emblematic case studies, and
policy choices. Pursuant to this rigorous approach, the book provides an
original and thought-provoking critique of the challenges of regulating
pharmaceutical markets.