Pharmaceutical industry board game

Abstract

A board game illustrating the development, production and sale of new drugs by the pharmaceutical industry is provided. The game can be played by 2 or more persons and can be used for educational purposes or for entertainment.

1 . A game apparatus for 2 or more players comprising:
 a) a game board for each player representing a fictive company, comprising markings for at least 3 rounds separating a first area of the board from a second area of the board, both areas comprising locations where project cards can be placed, and indications of productions units, research units and sales & marketing units possessed by the company;   b) a first set of cards called project cards, each card comprising a project title, indications of costs for developing the projects for each of at least 2 rounds, indications of income for the developed project for one or more rounds, and indications for the number of production units and sales & marketing units required for the project;   c) a second set of cards called chance cards, each card comprising indication of an event that may influence the game;   d) means for indicating agreements between parties;   e) a set of units representing a currency;   f) markings representing supplementary production units, science and research units and Sales & Marketing units, and   g) a device able to create a random outcome.   
   
   
       2 . A game apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a) a game board for each player representing a fictive pharmaceutical company, comprising markings for 9 rounds separating a first area of the board from a second area of the board, both areas comprising locations where project cards can be placed, the markings indicating income for each of the rounds, and indications of productions units, research units and sales & marketing units possessed by the company;   b) a first set of cards called project cards, each card comprising a project title and indication of a disease category, indications of costs for developing the projects and indications of income for the developed project for each of 3 rounds, and indications for the number of production units and sales & marketing units required for the project;   c) a second set of cards called chance cards, each card comprising indication of an event that may influence the game;   d) means for indicating agreements between parties, comprising colored indications for placing on project cards, and a contract summary sheet, providing space for listing agreements between parties;   e) a set of units representing a currency;   f) markings representing supplementary production units, science and research units and Sales & Marketing units, and   g) a die.   
   
   
       3 . A method of playing a game for 2 or more players, comprising the following steps:
 providing the game of  claim 1 ;   providing each player with a game board;   establishing a bank;   playing 4 or more rounds, each round comprising four phases:
 1. Income phase; 
 2. Research and Negotiation phase; 
 3. Payment phase; and 
 4. R&D outcome phase; 
   determining the result of the game by calculating the income of each player in the last round.   
   
   
       4 . A method of playing a game for two or more players, comprising the following steps:
 providing the game of  claim 2 ;   providing each player with a game board;   establishing a bank;   playing 9 rounds, each round comprising four phases:
 1. Income phase:
 a. receiving income from the bank; 
 b. collecting currency units from parties according to agreements; 
 c. selling supplementary production units, science and research units and Sales & Marketing Units. A player can sell two units in each round; 
 d. receiving a number of chance cards according to company size; and 
 e. immediately playing any “lawsuit” and “research grant” cards; 
 
 2. Research and Negotiation phase
 a. each player draws a number of project cards dictated by the company's research units; 
 b. players may negotiate agreements with other players; and 
 c. using all “life cycle management” chance cards; 
 
 3. Payment phase
 a. paying obligations according to agreements; 
 b. paying the bank for R&D activities for projects being developed; 
 c. paying the bank for purchase of supplementary production units, science and research units and Sales & Marketing units;—a player can only buy two units in each round; and 
 d. using all “Patent Infringement” chance cards; 
 
 4. R&D outcome phase
 a. allocating all “scientific breakthrough” chance cards to projects being developed; 
 b. rolling a die for each of the projects being developed to determine if the particular project is successful and progresses to the next phase, where the outcome of 1-3 on the die is deemed to be successful; 
 c. returning all failed or unused project cards to the deck; and 
 d. returning all unused chance cards to the deck; 
 
   determining the result of the game by counting the income of each player in the last round.