Roger Stein: A bold new way to fund drug research

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[srimansrini]

Roger Stein presents an excellent and workable solution to the drug funding. It is innovative it is practical and this speech is highly recommended.

[nope.]

Amazing.

Last year one of my pharm professors was giving us a lecture about drug trails, he talked about how hard it was to get a single drug through all of this, I think he's going to be quite happy with this! 

[andyan]

I like hearing about problems that I didn't know existed...when followed by an innovative solution.

[phatpat]

This video has convinced me that governments should be the primary funders of drug development.

[rambo]

Maybe they should dip into the ridiculously high defense budget or should I say offense budget?

[FanOfZwicky]

Why he didn't get a standing ovation!! He presented it so casually - but it could be really incredible. Bravo.

[liangyi]

I looked for the source code he talked about. But did not find it. Where is it?

[aaronbell]

Perhaps because I work at a contract research organization and know the validity of this, I'm going to read about this for a few hours over the next three days and invest immediately into this.

[timlebsack]

"Many people think that if it’s a good idea the government should do it. The real answer is if it’s a good idea the government shouldn’t do it. If it’s a good idea we can do it without the government.” -- Penn Jillette

[magister]

If we implemented a high Land Value Tax to discourage unproductive land speculation (while allowing us to get rid of all sorts of taxes which distort the free market in ways that cause significant inefficiencies and deadweight losses), then this kind of fund would likely attract a lot more capital.

[johnleeb]

You also have the current producers of drugs and hospitals not wanting to lose their current cash cows. And if those studies do assure a good drug then why do we have hundreds of lawsuits about approved drugs that have damaged people?

[harrycotterill]

The problem with trailing drugs and he doesn't notice it here at 4:00 is that phase 3 trials do not have to be better than what is currently on the market, it only has to be proved to be better than nothing at all which is a totally ridiculous notion because it means a lot of money is wasted between drug companies that do not test against their rivals. They test against placebos and then over saturated areas of the market while leaving other areas (antibiotics) falling way behind to a point where it is very dangerous and the world will be very dangerous in 10 years.

[jaredspencer]

This sounds like an amazing idea to finally force society to fund desparately needed scientific research. However, it seems that everything institutional banks touch goes through a devastating boom and bust. I would be afraid of the fallout after public opinion turns against drug research when the "drug research" bubble bursts, the same way that Internet companies and housing became sore spots to the public after thier bubbles burst.

[IndyHart]

A great solution for an important societal problem.
In a way, using greed to fund need.

[Observerx]

Natural treatments are more effective, not risky and inexpensive by any comparison, whether or not government approved or allowed.

[medman]

It's going to be a tough system to adopt. However you look at it, it's going to be a gamble. You will not only have to convince the funds, but also the general population who are providing the build of fund finance. I applaud cancer drug treatment financing, and it does help, but more could also be spent on primary prevention programs and supportive drugs for cancer patients.

[TheElfishGene]

Drugs that could potentially save lives, should never be seen as a way to make financial profit, it's our thinking that is backward and there should be no place in an empathic and humane society for ideas like these. I understand the problems obviously and applaud the motion but one day in the future this will be laughable and seen for the cruelty and stupidity it is. In the meantime bravo!

[richycline]

Great idea, I would love to see something like this implemented in a greed free manor.

[TheFirstBK]

Absolutely, let's make this a reality people!

[MrDuckKiller]

Its amazing how such a brilliant idea stemmed from one man having a sick father