Examining how drug patents affect patient access to medications
Official title: The Impacts of Enhanced Drug-Patent Examination
Funded at National Bureau of Economic Research · NIH-11019760 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the way we check drug patents affects how easily patients can get important medications that can help them live longer, and it aims to find ways to make sure everyone has better access to these treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Bureau of Economic Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $284,957 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG076586-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11019760 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients who rely on longevity-improving drugs, especially those affected by age-related conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require longevity-improving medications or are not affected by age-related diseases may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of enhanced drug-patent examination on patient access to longevity-improving drugs. It focuses on how the patent system may hinder or help access to these medications by examining the time and resources available to patent examiners. The study will analyze the effects of secondary patents, which can extend the effective patent life of drugs, potentially limiting patient access to important treatments. By understanding these dynamics, the research aims to inform policies that balance innovation with patient access.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved access to essential medications for patients, particularly those with age-related diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that patent examination reforms can positively impact patient access to medications, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
National Bureau of Economic Research
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frakes, Michael D. — National Bureau of Economic Research
- Study coordinator: Frakes, Michael D.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.