Drug Development

* Re “The Cost of Medication Is Enough to Make You Sick,” Ventura County Perspective, Sept. 24.

This opinion article stated that “pharmaceutical companies receive grants to develop new drugs both from private foundations and from taxpayers through government funds.”

In fact, pharmaceutical companies use revenues from sales of existing drugs and from investors to discover and develop new medicines. This year, companies will spend more than $26 billion on research and development.

Moreover, patents do not confer monopolies. Although patents protect a specific molecular entity from being copied for a limited amount of time, most new drugs have competitors soon after they enter the market. That’s why patients can choose among competing innovative drugs for arthritis, high blood pressure and many other diseases.

ALAN F. HOLMER

Pharmaceutical Research and

Manufacturers of America

Washington, D. C.