Should academic therapeutic patents go to the highest bidder?

Abstract

Universities conduct biomedical research with the self-stated goal of disseminating the benefits to the global public. Licensing therapeutic patents to the highest bidder is counterproductive to this aim, as it prioritizes income maximization over dissemination. We believe that licensing strategies focused on promoting broad access to university-discovered therapeutics better serve both the mission of universities and the public good.

Keywords::

• access to medicine
• biomedical research
• technology transfer
• university licensing