I definitely wouldn't call my friend misinformed. He has only been the head research for 4 major companies. Being head hunted three times. Working from SF, Boston, and Tx twice I believe. It isn't a conspiracy theory. His point is that R&D of drugs is beyond expensive and there are many small companies/institutes/individuals don't have the monetary means to support it or get it through bureaucracy's red tape.
It is many fold. Lots of researcher want to develop their ideas further but no access to the money needed. Don't want to lose control of their baby and don't trust some big Pharma companies not to steal ideas. It is much more complex the most would believe. The amount of secrecy and paranoia is unbelievable. You also have to sign away your right to your ideas if you work for big pharma. They get all your intellectual ideas and inventions. His point is we would be way further along on the cure, if not cured, if it wasn't for the competition for money. No one wants to share ideas because all fighting for same dollars, all want to produce the next big drug, and everyone wanting it to be theirs.
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