By Invitation | Pharmaceutical innovation

What good are whizzy new drugs if the world can’t afford them?

Bringing gene therapies and obesity drugs to the masses will require financial innovation too, says Steven Pearson

Illustration: Dan Williams

IN RECENT YEARS biotechnology and pharmaceutical science have produced quantum leaps that both offer great opportunity and pose great risk. Gene therapies for rare conditions and obesity drugs for larger segments of society could transform health for the better. But for that to happen, policymakers and the companies behind these new treatments need to adapt quickly to the daunting cost challenges associated with them.

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A broader peace is within Israel’s grasp, say Tamir Pardo and Nimrod Novik

A former Mossad director and former foreign-policy adviser on an offer not to be refused

An illustration of Julius Maada, Lazarus Chakwera and Andry Rajoelina.

Three presidents on the partnerships that can at last transform Africa

Success teeters on bold, stable funding, say Julius Maada Bio, Lazarus Chakwera and Andry Rajoelina 


Assisted-dying advocates’ claims of freedom have it backward, says Danny Kruger

One of a pair of essays in which members of Parliament argue their cases


My assisted-dying bill safely solves a grave injustice, says Kim Leadbeater

One of a pair of essays in which members of Parliament argue their cases

“Middle powers” can thrive in the age of AI, says Eric Schmidt

Google’s former chief executive has a playbook for riding out the revolution

Polls get elections wrong. So use Google, says Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

The data scientist argues that stronger predictions lie in what people search for