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R&D in the Pharmaceutical Industry: A World of Small Innovations

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  • Beatriz Domínguez
  • Juan-José Ganuza
  • Gerard Llobet

Abstract

It is commonly argued that in recent years pharmaceutical companies have directed their R&D towards small improvements of existing compounds instead of more risky drastic innovations. In this paper we show that the proliferation of these small innovations is likely to be linked to the lack of market sensitivity of a part of the demand to changes in prices. Compared to their social contribution, small innovations are relatively more profitable than large ones because they are targeted to the smaller but more inelastic part of the demand. We also study the effect of regulatory instruments such as price ceilings, copayments and reference prices and extend the analysis to competition in research.

Suggested Citation

  • Beatriz Domínguez & Juan-José Ganuza & Gerard Llobet, 2006. "R&D in the Pharmaceutical Industry: A World of Small Innovations," Working Papers wp2006_0601, CEMFI.
    • Handle: RePEc:cmf:wpaper:wp2006_0601
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    Cited by:

    1. Juan-José Ganuza & Gerard Llobet & Beatriz Domínguez, 2009. "R& D in the Pharmaceutical Industry: A World of Small Innovations," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 55(4), pages 539-551, April.
    2. de Frutos, Maria-Angeles & Ornaghi, Carmine & Siotis, Georges, 2013. "Competition in the pharmaceutical industry: How do quality differences shape advertising strategies?," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 268-285.
    3. Antonio Cabrales & Sergi Jiménez‐Martín, 2013. "The Determinants Of Pricing In Pharmaceuticals: Are Us Prices Really So High?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(11), pages 1377-1397, November.
    4. Patrick Leoni & Alvaro Sandroni, 2016. "Can patent duration hinder medical innovation," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 397-406, December.
    5. González, Paula & Macho-Stadler, Inés & Pérez-Castrillo, David, 2016. "Private versus social incentives for pharmaceutical innovation," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 286-297.
    6. Antonio Cabrales & Sergi Jiménez-Martín, 2007. "The determinants of pricing in pharmaceuticals: Are U.S. prices really higher than those of Canada?," Economics Working Papers 1032, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
    7. Javier Díaz-Giménez & Josep Pijoan-Mas, 2006. "Flat Tax Reforms in the U.S.: A Boon for the Income Poor," Working Papers wp2006_0611, CEMFI.
    8. Baruch Lev & Suresh Radhakrishnan & Jamie Yixing Tong, 2021. "Earnings Component Volatilities: Capital Versus R&D Expenditures," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(5), pages 1475-1492, May.
    9. Suarez, Javier & Ceron, Jose A., 2006. "Hot and Cold Housing Markets: International Evidence," CEPR Discussion Papers 5411, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
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    11. Chiara Fumagalli & Massimo Motta & Thomas Rønde, 2009. "Exclusive Dealing: The Interaction between Foreclosure and Investment Promotion," Working Papers 2009.120, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives

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