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A. MONGE Y COLS. ANAL. REAL ACAD. FARM.

In countries with emerging economies, biodiversity and related
activities constitute “green gold.” For this reason, at times, the govern-
ments assume quick, financially-driven policies that can sometimes be
contrary to eco-relationships. Thus, both parties must be prepared to
adopt longer-range planning considerations into their decision-making
processes. Equity and equal opportunity must be given to protect the dis-
coveries made by any society. This principle of equity can ameliorate any
misunderstanding arising out of the actions of medicinal chemists in de-
veloped countries in their relationship with their counterparts in develop-
ing countries.

Summarial Points

¾ Medicinal Chemistry research on extracts from plants and other living
organisms that leads to the discovery of therapeutic agents, can also
be an important factor toward maintaining biodiversity.

¾ Relationships between societies which possess important biodiversity
and developed societies which possess advanced technological proc-
esses should be based on the principles of equity. They should oper-
ate by means of collaborative contracts which acknowledge progres-
sion of scientific research in such a way that the immediate financial
aspects are not considered to be of primary interest but rather only a
legitimate, longer-term consequence of such partnering (8,9).

¾ Since all of humanity benefits from the discovery of new drugs, all
societies should collaborate in the preservation and evaluation of the
areas of great diversity from which such structures might emerge.
This could be carried out through investments made by pharmaceuti-
cal companies to help preserve this type of land (e.g. of great biodi-
versity, of fragile environment, or where promising species prosper)
and through the promotion of localized searches done in collaborative
settings that can allow for both immediate development of identified
actives and sustained cultivation of undefined biodiversity.

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