I guess one qualitative difference is the fact that drug companies now cut down on research, suggesting that area of science has passed the point where it can no longer pay for itself.
Something similar happened in particle physics: in the early 20th century experiments were cheap (and fit on a tabletop), yet the value of the discoveries was immense (x-rays, nuclear power). Nowadays the experiments needed to make new discoveries are staggeringly expensive (LHC, SSC), and they are not expected to have any technological implications at all (since the new science will only be relevant under extreme conditions). So investing in particle physics research went from being free money to being a net cost.
I guess one qualitative difference is the fact that drug companies now cut down on research, suggesting that area of science has passed the point where it can no longer pay for itself.
Something similar happened in particle physics: in the early 20th century experiments were cheap (and fit on a tabletop), yet the value of the discoveries was immense (x-rays, nuclear power). Nowadays the experiments needed to make new discoveries are staggeringly expensive (LHC, SSC), and they are not expected to have any technological implications at all (since the new science will only be relevant under extreme conditions). So investing in particle physics research went from being free money to being a net cost.