EXPLORING PATENT ACTIVITY AND ITS POTENTIAL ASSOCIATION WITH HEALTHCARE OUTCOMES: A CASE STUDY OF OSTOMY PRODUCTS IN SWEDEN.

PA in the ostomy care industry was associated with reduced healthcare costs, but not necessarily with fewer skin complications. It suggests that there is a health economic benefit from products made by patent intensive companies which may differentiate them from generic comparators, but more research is needed to understand the impact of activities conducive to medical innovation on health outcomes.