Patents in biotechnology

Pros and cons of genetic patents Biotechnology is closely related to drug industries. 90% of biotechnology sales in the U.S. are from pharmaceuticals. The number of granted biopharmaceutical patents in the 1 This result depends on the difference between them about genetic patents policy. There are significant advantages for allowing genetic patents. First, the patents in this field clearly promote invention. The drug industry is the field where patent protection is easier to enforce because of the relative simplicity of the industry and its products. Second, the patents encourage many entities get into the research. Until the 1970s, nearly all molecular biology research was government or university sponsored. After genetic patents were admitted in the U.S., small firms can raise funds for research activities by making their knowledge into assets through patent system. New drugs require knowledge from broad fields, so the collaboration among many entities is effective for making good research. Third, the patents have an effect to promote diffusion of new research by filing research 1 Derwent Intellectual Property. Patenting in the biopharmaceutical industry-comparing the US with Europe. December 2002. 2 contents.