Biotechnology: a case of delayed international convergence?

Abstract

Catching up and leapfrogging regularly occur in capitalist economies, both at the level of entire countries and specific industries. The USA has taken the lead in biopharmaceuticals and has kept it for over fifty years. Biotechnology is now helping the US pharmaceutical industry to keep its global leadership patent and product figures or biotechnology drugs indicate that the USA is keeping its lead, and is not going to be left behind by any other nation, advanced or emerging, in the foreseeable future.