Synthetic biology: ensuring the greatest global value.

Systems and Synthetic Biology Pub Date : 2013-09-01 Epub Date: 2013-07-17 DOI:10.1007/s11693-013-9115-5
Aidan Hollis
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Abstract

Synthetic biology (SynBio) has tremendous, transformative potential. Like other technologies, it can be used for good or ill. Currently, the structure of the allocation of potential benefits and risks is biased in favor of richer countries. The underlying problem is simple: most risks from SynBio are universal and affect both the rich and the poor with equal force; but benefits from SynBio can be expected to accrue chiefly to the rich. The risk/benefit balance is therefore skewed in a way that may lead to inefficient and unfair decisions. One potential solution is presented in this paper, using the principles that underlie the Health Impact Fund (HIF). The HIF is designed to reward companies based on assessed health impact, no matter where it occurs in the world, so that extending the life of a poor person is as profitable as extending the life of a rich person. This paper considers both the potential benefits and costs of SynBio; examines how the current global pharmaceutical industry is structured; introduces the HIF proposal; and finally explores how the principles underlying the HIF could be used productively with SynBio for global health.

合成生物学:确保最大的全球价值。
合成生物学(SynBio)具有巨大的变革潜力。与其他技术一样,它也可以被用于造福或造祸。目前,潜在利益和风险的分配结构偏向于富裕国家。根本问题很简单:合成生物技术的大多数风险都是普遍性的,对富人和穷人都有同等的影响;但合成生物技术带来的收益预计将主要归富人所有。因此,风险/收益的平衡出现了偏差,可能导致决策效率低下和不公平。本文利用健康影响基金 (HIF) 的基本原则,提出了一种潜在的解决方案。健康影响基金旨在根据评估的健康影响对公司进行奖励,无论这种影响发生在世界的哪个角落,这样,延长穷人的生命与延长富人的生命一样有利可图。本文考虑了 SynBio 的潜在利益和成本;研究了当前全球制药业的结构;介绍了 HIF 提议;最后探讨了如何将 HIF 的基本原则与 SynBio 一起有效地用于全球健康事业。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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