Discount contracts: Germany's misguided attempt at cost-cutting
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
It is extremely easy to be cynical about what are often perceived to be immense profits generated by the research-based pharmaceutical industry. Perhaps in the past it was easy to fall in line with general criticisms, partly because of reciprocally beneficial deals made with between manufacturers and companies or medical professionals. However, the introduction of self regulation and codes of practice have largely eradicated these agreements. Increasingly, profits are being ploughed back into research and development as the emergence of new chemical entities dries up.