Intellectual Property Rights and the Ascent of Proprietary Innovation in Agriculture

Biological innovations in agriculture did not enjoy protection by formal intellectual property rights (IPRs) for a long time, but the recent trend has been one of considerable broadening and strengthening of these rights. We document the nature of these IPRs and their evolution, and provide an assessment of their impacts on innovation. We integrate elements of the institutional history of plant IPRs with a discussion of the relevant economic theory and a review of applicable empirical evidence. Throughout, we highlight how the experience of biological innovation mirrors, or differs from, the broader literature on IPRs and innovation. We conclude with some considerations on the relation between IPRs and market structure and the pricing of proprietary inputs in agricultur

THE PHARMACODYNAMICS AND PHARMACOKINETICS OF ORG-9426, A NEW NONDEPOLARIZING NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKING-AGENT, IN PATIENTS ANESTHETIZED WITH NITROUS-OXIDE, HALOTHANE AND FENTANYL

The pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of a new non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent, Org 9426, were investigated. Ten patients undergoing elective head and neck surgery and anaesthetized with nitrous oxide, halothane and fentanyl, received a bolus dose of Org 9426 (1 mg.kg-1, 3 x ED90). The isometric contractions of the adductor pollicis muscle following ulnar nerve stimulation (0.1 Hz and intermittent TOF) were measured. Blood and urine were sampled over 8 and 24 hr, respectively. Concentrations of Org 9426 and its possible metabolites in plasma and urine were determined using HPLC. Pharmacokinetic variables were calculated by iterative linear least square regression analysis. Intubation conditions were excellent one minute after administration at a neuromuscular block of 88 (13)% (Mean (CV)). Onset time until maximum block, duration until 25% recovery of twitch height, and recovery from 25 until 75% of twitch height were 1.7 (32), 53 (19) and 20 (37) min, respectively. The TOF reached a ratio of 0.7 after 87 (19) min. Half lives were 1.8 (33), 19 (34), 131 (62) min, respectively, in a three exponential decay; distribution volume at steady-state and plasma clearance were 0.264 (56) L.kg-1 and 4.0 (21) ml.kg-1.min-1, respectively. Plasma concentration at 25% recovery of the twitch height was 1.0 mg.L-1. Within 24 h, 33 (37)% of Org 9426 was excreted unchanged in the urine. Metabolites were absent both in plasma and urine. We conclude that the difference in potency between Org 9426 and vecuronium is similar to the difference between their effective concentrations. Org 9426 mimics vecuronium in its time-course of action and pharmacokinetic behaviour and produces excellent intubating conditions one minute following the administration of 1 mg.kg-1