patents

Patents play a key role in the life sciences field, and here you’ll find extensive coverage of patents being granted, disputed or extended. By giving inventors a monopoly on their inventions, patents allow them to recoup the costs of research and development. This, in turn, leads to more new products and services being developed.

But patents can also be controversial. Some people argue that they give too much power to large corporations and stifle competition. Others argue that they are necessary to protect intellectual property and encourage innovation. For a look at the role of patents in biotechnology and drug development, read on.