79076 - Economics of the Biopharmaceutical Industry

Academic Year 2017/2018

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Health Economics and Management (cod. 8880)

    Also valid for Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Economics and Economic Policy (cod. 8420)

Learning outcomes

The course aims at providing student with an advanced knowledge on the economics & regulation of the biopharmaceuticals market. Biopharmaceutical markets are regulated in most countries. The objective of regulation is to assure consumers that the inputs into the health production function are of sufficiently high quality, and are made available at reasonable social costs. Regulation typically consists of some combination of different tools like regulation of market access and product safety, patent protection, pricing regulation and regulation of promotion. At the end of the course the student is aware of: • Technological characteristics of the pharmaceutical sector and the objectives of regulation. • Pharmaceuticals' R&D and productivity • The economics of pharmaceutical patenting: patent extension policy, generic entry, extension of patent to developing countries. • Regulation of pricing and profitability. • Regulation of pharmaceutical promotion and DTCA.

Course contents

• Technological characteristics of the pharmaceutical sector and the objectives of regulation.

• Pharmaceuticals' R&D and productivity

• The economics of pharmaceutical patenting: patent extension policy, generic entry, extension of patent to developing countries.

• Regulation of pricing and profitability.

• Regulation of pharmaceutical promotion and DTCA.

• Issues on drugs for developing countries

• Evaluation of drugs

Readings/Bibliography

Danzon and Nicholson (eds), The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of the Biopharmaceutical Industry, Oxford University Press, 2012.

Scott Morton and Kyle, 2012, "Markets for Pharmaceutical Products", in Pauly, Mcguire and Barros (eds), Handbook of Health Economics, Volume 2, Elsevier.

Sloan FA and Hsieh C-R, 2012, Health Economics, MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachussets.

Bhattacharya J, Hyde T and Tu P, 2014, Health Economics, Palgrave McMillan.

Additional reading will be given during the course from the following: Journal of Health Economics, Journal of Economic Perspectives, New England Journal of Medicine, Health Affairs, ....

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars.

During the classes students will be asked to give short presentations on assigned papers. Each presentation will be followed by class discussion.

Assessment methods

Grades are expressed on a 18-30 scale. Grades below 18 are a FAIL.

The assessment will combine: A) Presentation (15 minutes) of an assigned reading, B) Written exam (60 minutes), C) attendance and class participation

A) will be determined at the end of the classes. Retakes might affect your final grade only via B).

Details on the grading system will be provided at the beginning of the classes.

Grades are registered under ALMAESAMI: https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm

Teaching tools

We will use Unibo e-learning platform for remote downloading of teaching materials and uploading of assigned presentations.

The access to platform will be restricted. Details on how to access the remote learning platform will be provided at the beginning of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Daniele Fabbri