Duke Research Advantage

Bloomberg reported yesterday that several pharmaceutical companies are working on new treatments to combat neglected diseases, illnesses occurring primarily in impoverished regions of the world.

The companies’ interest in developing these treatments is due in large part to the work of Duke faculty members Henry Grabowski, Jeff Moe, and David Ridley. Two years ago the Duke trio proposed a plan to encourage companies to develop these less-profitable treatments by offering a voucher for priority FDA review of another, more lucrative treatment (priority review means FDA reviews paper work sooner, so drugs reach the market four or more months earlier). The Duke team estimated each voucher could be worth more than $300 million per drug.

The Duke proposal was published in the journal Health Affairs. At the recommendation of a reporter, the authors contacted Senator Brownback, who contacted Senator Brown, and together they used the Duke idea as part of the basis for a bill that was voted into law in 2007. In a world where progress sometimes seems painstakingly slow, it’s great to see a smart idea not only published in an academic journal, but also turned into law and acted upon by companies, all in less than 3 years.