[tuatoru]

Research is the least labour- and time-intensive part of the system.

Trials are punishingly expensive.

Edit: protocol development. Drug interactions. Poisonings, Doctor education -- er, marketing. Incorporation into manuals. There's a lot that happens after the research talent has strutted its stuff.

Edit edit: oh, yeah developing manufacturing and logistics as well. The 'D' part of "R & D" is usually over 95% of the total for a reason.

[secabeen]

The challenge is that Pharma companies still spend huge sums on marketing, both to patients and to doctors. While I could probably be convinced that there's some role for spend on physician education about new drugs or spreading awareness, it should be a small fraction of the spend on R&D and manufacturing.

https://www.raps.org/news-and-articles/news-articles/2019/7/...