[quote=jeff303][quote=njtosd]
The NIH is supposed to pursue therapeutics that are needed but not commercially justifiable. I wouldn’t say capitalism is the problem – its the failure of government agencies to do what they are supposed to do.[/quote]
I find the notion that they haven’t “cured cancer” yet as evidence of their “failure” to be laughable if not outrageous. Even the idea of a “cure for cancer” is a naive fantasy, perhaps as best expressed by this comic: http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1162
There are armies of highly intelligent and motivated individuals working on it, and moreover, there is a crystal clear profit motive. So no, I don’t think we can chalk this one up to failure on the part of the NIH, but rather as evidence of the complexity of the universe and the difficulty of the problem at hand.[/quote]
The point that I was responding to was the contention that unpatentable therapeutics exist and are not pursued by industry. I probably didn’t express myself well. What I intended to say was that if we assume that such things exist, then it is the responsibility of the NIH to pursue those therapies, not private industry. I do believe that is the case, and in fact, the NIH has its Office of Rare Diseases because it recognizes its responsibility to fill the gaps left by private industry.
I am well aware of the complexities of the science. I disagree with the notion that the public has no guardian for its health care other than private industry.
