Assessment and diffusion of biotechnology drugs

Biotechnology, viewed as a young and innovative field, is associated with great possibilities and high expectation on patient benefits. But there are also public controversies on ethical, social and economic issues. Beginning with recombinant human insulin in 1982, more than 50 biotechnology drugs have since been introduced to the pharmaceutical market. Some substituted for already existing compounds extracted from animal sources, while others were novel compounds. The issues that are relevant to the assessment and diffusion of biotechnology drugs are examined in this thesis. Special attention was given to economic evaluations and to the substitution patterns of biotechnology replacements. Thoughtful considerations of data and facts on safety and effectiveness of biotechnology drugs were basic features. However, we also demonstrated that the interpretation of these facts generally was vulnerable to personal beliefs, values and socio-economic factors. As such, our studies contribute to the discussion on the innovation of medical practic