Drugs of Natural Origin-Economic and Policy Aspects of Discovery, Development, and Marketing

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, Summer 1998 by Sethi, Manohar L

ANTHONY ARTUSO. Drugs of Natural Origin-Economic and Policy Aspects of Discovery, Development, and Marketing. Binghamton NY: The Haworth Press, Inc., 1997. vii 201 pp., 21 figs., 4 tables. $ 39.95 (hardcover); $ 24.95 (softcover).

The book is written with a view to inform interested person about economic and policy aspects of development and marketing of natural drugs. How drugs are discovered and where are they present? What factors change therapeutic value of the drugs and the different ways for selecting a prospecting strategies? What is the basic model for defining process, complications and application of the model to the biochemical prospecting process? How to evaluate a prospecting opportunity and conserve and sustain development of biological resources? What can be the prospects, risks and rewards of having a contract? How the national and international policies implicate biological resources and prospecting market? These are some of the questions that are answered in this book.

The main source of the drugs is the mother nature itself. Chemical or biological synthesis of drugs is carried out after exploring the natural source, chemical structure and use of the drugs. Which source is economical or less time consuming is the strategy that dictates the development of the drugs. Finally, demand and human instinct play an important role in marketing the drugs. The book documents the discovery, development, drug approval and policy prospects of drugs. A significant contribution of the book is in the development of mathematical models and applications of equations to analyze and assess the cost, benefits and economics of the drug marketing.

The book is divided into five chapters. Chapter One deals with biodiversity and search for new drugs in which prospecting location, estimating the value of biodiversity, research process, and biochemical prospecting of drug discovery are discussed. Chapter Two is devoted to basic model, defining the research and development process, some complications to the basic model and potential applications of the model to the biochemical prospecting process. Chapter Three discusses host country options for conservation and sustainable development by evaluating a proposed biochemical prospecting opportunity and setting strategies for sustainable development of biological resources. Chapter Four presents contractual arrangements for allocating cost, risks and rewards if exclusive prospecting rights and agreements are made. Also, allocating financial risks and returns from royalty and profit-sharing arrangements and technological transfer, training and technical assistance are discussed. Chapter Five describes international policy implications which have impact on the political economy of biological resources, conservation on biodiversity? biochemical prospecting market and international policy options.

The book contains two appendices. Appendix A deals with simulated distribution of returns from biochemical prospecting opportunity, and Appendix B provides two-period, two-site dynamic programming land-use planning. A summary, conclusions and notes are provided on each chapter. The book is well referenced and gives a good market insight and outlook of research and development of a marketable drug for pharmaceutical industries. The book is useful for economists all over the world for assessing the prospects of marketing a drug. Mathematical equations are applied in conservation and sustainable development of drugs of natural origin. Policymakers and politicians can benefit from the discussion of chapter on international policy applications. The book will be a good asset in the undergraduate and graduate university libraries for anyone interested in biodiversity conservation and economics of the natural products. It is a good book for natural product chemists who are interested in biodiversity conservation and biochemical prospecting of new drugs. Private organizations and government research institutes should also be able to utilize the information given in the book for sustainable development and biodiversity conservation of new drugs. The nominal cost of the book should allow interested persons to purchase a personal copy.

Manohar L. Sethi

Howard University.