My dad worked in pharma research for about 30 years - mostly cancer research. He discovered a very promising lead on a new anti-cancer treatment. It was isolated from a natural source. The research was set aside back in the late 1960's or early 1970's. I remember he was very disappointed but he explained to us that it was because the chemists basically ruled the roost and the biologists were over-ruled. They were developing more profitable medicines for chronic conditions and this would have been too expensive to develop. Since it was based on a natural isolate, it was very complicated to go from natural isolate to something that could be created in volume through chemical synthesis, and it was abandoned. Many years later, a small firm secured rights to develop his discovery as an orphan drug. It ended up being a breakthrough for several types of cancer that had no effective treatment available. It was a completely new mode of action. The drug and its derivatives went on to save many lives. It was very gratifying for him to see this turnaround during his lifetime, even though he didn't earn a dime from the success. As I think back on it now, big pharma killed a promising line of cancer treatment in order to focus on repeat sales of easily manufactured drugs for chronic conditions. Hmmmm.