Why did Banting not patent insulin?
Sir Frederick Banting and his partner, Dr. Charles Best, invented insulin, but never patented it. Their reason for doing this was that they wanted everyone, rich or poor, to be able to access this life saving treatment for diabetes. Instead of patenting insulin, they sold the rights to the University of Toronto for $1.00 to ensure this. Soon after the discovery of insulin a large medical firm started producing insulin on a large-scale and by 1923 had produced enough insulin to supply North America. This company was given permission to produce insulin free of royalties, making sales of insulin cheaper.