Patent protection and Innovation Support

Vieira de Almeida & Associados (VdA)'s partner Paulo Pinheiro was one of the guest speakers at the television program on health "Especial Saúde" that approached the issues arising from patent protection as a means to promote innovation. It takes an average of thirteen years and circa a billion dollars to develop a new drug. "The scope of time and the amount involved are enormous" states VdA's lawyer. If innovation is pointed out as one of the key factors for economic development and health promotion, it is indispensable that there is a safeguard for such an effort, explains Paulo Pinheiro.
Ana Maria Nogueira, Merck Sharp & Dohme's Medical Director and Jorge Félix, Pharmaceutical and Health Economist were also guests at the TV program.