Cancer Drug May Not Get A Chance Due to Lack of Patent

theshowmecanuck writes to mention that in a recent study, researchers at the University of Alberta Department of Medicine have shown that an existing small, relatively non-toxic molecule, dichloroacetate (DCA), causes regression in several different cancers. From the article: "But there's a catch: the drug isn't patented, and pharmaceutical companies may not be interested in funding further research if the treatment won't make them a profit. In findings that 'astounded' the researchers, the molecule known as DCA was shown to shrink lung, breast and brain tumors in both animal and human tissue experiments."

Comments

Just patent the "business model" of curing cancer

[kaltkalt]

Simple solution, if you can't patent the actual drug, patent the "business model" of curing cancer. We all know the PTO would grant such a patent without a second look. If "curing cancer" is too broad, then patent the business model of curing cancer with a pharmaceutical sold at a profit. That'll be more than enough to pass the rubber stamp test.

hmmmm.. i remember

[supermegadope]

when i submitted this yesterday...maybe my submitting virginity showed, no one wants to give it to a tech geek slashdot virgin --smd