Valley of Sorrow
From The Embassy of Good Science
ResourcesCases
Valley of Sorrow
What is this about?
A mid-career researcher has strong links to a pharmaceutical company. He learns that the company has made advances in relation to a process that results in compounds that can reduce mortality in relation to a neglected tropical disease and influenza, as well as treating the common cold. Because of prior use, neither the process nor the resulting compounds can be patented. The company wants to work for a further five years on the process and compounds in order to get ahead of rivals and make a profit from the developments in high income countries in relation to influenza and the common cold. However, in that time, thousands of people suffering from the neglected tropical disease could be saved. Should the researcher break a confidentiality agreement and reveal the process and compounds? This is a fictional case.
Why is this important?
Researchers can encounter dilemmas whilst working with private industry due to competing priorities and obligations (e.g. immediate interests of certain patient groups vs. financial sustainability of companies).
