Genentech Owns a Patent on Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA), Which

question 128

Essay

Genentech owns a patent on tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), which is an enzyme that helps the body break down blood clots. TPA is particularly valuable to cardiac patients, since it often allows heart problems to be treated with medication rather than surgery. Recently, however, firms in the medical industry have come under fire from some members of Congress and the press for charging high prices and earning monopoly profits. Do you think cardiac patients would benefit if the government stripped Genentech and other pharmaceutical firms of their patents? Explain.

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Definitions:

Negative Evaluation

The assessment of something with a focus on its faults or disadvantages, often leading to a conclusion that views the subject in a predominantly critical light.

Antidepressants

Medications prescribed to treat depression and other conditions by altering brain chemistry.

Anxiety-Related Disorders

A group of mental health disorders characterized by significant feelings of anxiety and fear.

Benzodiazepines

A class of psychoactive drugs used to treat conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, and seizures by enhancing the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA in the brain.