Future of nanomedicine: obstacles and remedies.

The future of nanomedicines is undermined by the lack of financial profitability, consumer distrust, ineffective regulation of new and generic products, weak patent protection and insurance market failure. Its economic breakthrough is dependent on a series of countervailing measures and actions. Success requires more investment induced by cost-effectiveness analyses and business plans based on clinical data, public education based on nanotoxicology studies, smart regulatory reform in the areas of testing, market entry and liability, effective and strategic patenting, patent dispute prevention and resolution, and innovative insurance policies.