Milford chronicle., 1960-11-04
DRUG RESEARCH

One of the most important activities of
the drug industry is research. 1t is costly
and risky-only about one out of every thou
sand compounds tested proves valuable But,
without research, pharmaceutical progress
would stop, and the health of the American
people would suffer drastically
Some critics charge that the value of
the American drug industry's research ef-
fort has been over-rated-and that in fact,
most of the important modern discoveries
came from the laboratories of foreign firms
or from academic institutions.
That charge has been effectively answer
ed in a summarization of the origin of 70 of
today's most important drugs. They are
USED in IL major therapeutic fields and, in
their fields, are the drugs most frequently
prescribed by physicians. Each is a new
chemical entity; each was discovered in the
last 10 years. The score: 20 were discovered
in other countries, Al in the United States.
Of these, were developed in non-commer-
cial laboratories-and 81, we'll over half of
the world total, came from the u. S. drug
industry.
This industry's record of achievement is
unrivaled. 1t includes the discovery and de-
velopment of basic vitan1ins and new sulfa
drugs, and synthesis of cortisone and high
potency steroids used to treat arthritis and
other infammatory diseases. 1t made poss-
ible mass production of penicillin. 1t has
been responsible for anti-cancer research
resulting in valuable palliatives. Still other
discoveries or developments involve drugs
used in the treatment of such diverse prob
lens as mental aidments and tuberculosis.
So 1t goes, down the long and ever-lengthen-
ing list.
The drama of medical progress is enact
ed by large enSembled of skilled PLAYERS
f.ssa ~
group deserves sole credit. Yet the u. S.
prescription drug industry deserves a lot
more credit than many people seem willing
to give. Its research activity are among the
strongest guarantees in the world of good
health, long life and further advances in
medicine.
DEEP ROOTS
Life Magazine recently devoted full
page editorial to the thesis that this nation
needs more, not less, toll In the course of
its discussion, it said: whether unions
have too much power, that power is no long
er directed toward the whole needs of the
economy of the u. S. or of the rest of the
world. The enterpriser, the tax-reformer,
the tariff-reducer can do lot more to meet
these needs than any of the current ortho-
dox prO-labOr proposals such as a minimum
wage hike which would increase unemploy-
ment by forcing employers to weed out work
ers who simply aren't worth more than 81
an hour.
If this seems harsh judgment, it has
deep roots in economic law. There is only
one way that incomes can be increased and
living standards improved without running
the risks of disastrous infation-and that
is through increased worker productivity.
Inc current minimum wage proposals are
good example of the wrong way to 90
about it. Not only would the wage be in
creased, but the law would be extended to
millions of workers in local enterprises. no
tabiy. retailing, who have hitherto been ex-
empt. One result, as Life says would be
more unemployment-the affected enter
prlSes would hire as few marginal workers
as possible. A second result. in all likeli-
hood, would be new wave Of price increases
that is, new wave of imitation. A third
result, which is directly tied in with the
hrst would be to deprive a great number
of unskilled people of the opportunity to
gain experience that would qualify them for
better jobs.
The biggest current need in the labor
management field is for programs designed
to secure maximum production at minimum
cost, within the limits of fair and reason
able work-weeks and work-rules.
DIPLOMATIC CONTACT
A couple of mistaken ideas about rela-
tiOns between East and West are held bv
too many Americans. One of these is that
summit conference would be good thing
in itself. whether or not there was any
sound expectation of progress The other
is the notion that diligent effort to establish
regular diplomatic exchanges with the So
Wet Union is somehow disreputable
1t must be said fatty. that there is no
magic in summit conferences If the heads
OF the great powers could be brought togeth-