Patients and patents:

Patients and patents:

A grassroots education campaign on pharmaceutical patents

Rising prescription drug prices around the world are putting life-saving medications out of reach for many people living with chronic diseases. One of the lesser-known causes is the misuse of pharmaceutical patents, which can block or delay access to more affordable treatment options and keep prices high long after an original medication’s primary patent has expired.

The Patients and patents campaign is a global effort led by patient organizations to provide easy-to-understand information about how drug patents work, how they’re used in different countries, and how their misuse harms both patients and healthcare systems.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or a longtime advocate, this website offers resources to help you understand how patent rules affect your health and your access to affordable medications and how you can take part in the campaign for change.