Dr. Kieran Harkin:

Our position is that patent and monopoly-inducing incentives are not appropriate and that it is not appropriate for any period of time for the owner of a life-saving drug to be allowed to charge whatever it wants. While it is clear that there needs to be some incentive, such an ability is not appropriate. We realise that the protection is useful as an incentive, particularly for orphan drugs, where there is an added ten years. Our position is that patents, monopoly and market exclusivity are not appropriate incentives for developing drugs.