Wikipedia
De-linkage is a proposed model for development of new pharmaceutical drugs where "de-link" refers to isolating the profitability of a drug from its volume of sales.
In the current business model, the pharmaceutical industry relies on the pricing and sales of its products to generate profits and to finance research and development of new drugs. This ability is dependent on the monopoly granted through patents.
In the de-linkage model, other means (such as lump sums) would be used to reward companies for research and development in exchange for restricting the price changed for the product. This would allow the product to be sold at prices closer to production costs which would ensure better access, particularly for poor people and those who pay for their own treatment.