Moving Your Results from Bench to Bedside: Protecting Scientific Findings

Abstract

Scientific research can be an exceptionally expensive and time-consuming process requiring the investment of millions of dollars before any potential profit. Additional efforts are linked to the obligatory review of new drugs by a regulatory agency, which is required before a new substance can be marketed. The author discusses patents for the protection of intellectual property (IP), defensive publications offer freedom to operate, trade secrets as a common alternative, the right to filing IP rights, and the right time to decide. Protecting the results of scientific research at an early stage has been proven to be the best paradigm, if said research has scientific or commercial potential. When commercialization is not a priority or its potential not even recognized, obtaining intellectual property rights may not even be desired.