The AIDS epidemic is just one of the catastrophic health problems that illustrate the disparity between medical advances and the costs that make them inaccessible to those who need them. Today, steps are being taken to provide low-cost drugs to developing countries, but the general problem remains, and it surrounds the patent protection provided to the companies that develop the drugs. Consider the balance now struck between guaranteeing profits of pharmaceutical giants that developed these drugs and the need for inexpensive variants to preserve life. Discuss the negative impact of our patent protection policies in these areas and consider what can be done to overcome thae problem.