> spend billions... adequate period to recoup... earn enough... huge amounts of capital
All these words don't carry meaning without proper data. Unless we know how much they've spent, how much they need to recoup & grow, these claims are vague.
> stealing the fruits of other people's labor
Without studying the merits/demerits of the patent, this is a hyperbole. I'm saying, maybe your statements are true, maybe not. But without backing up with facts, they are merely sentimental.
Here's an interesting case of drug pricing. Albendazole is a fairly common/old drug. It's a broad spectrum anthelmintic that retails for a few cents in most parts of the world. Recenty, U.S. price of albendazole has increased by >4000% to over US$100 per 200-mg tablet[1].
Another example: Novartis, the company that makes the leukemia drug Gleevec, keeps raising the drug’s price, even though the drug has already delivered billions in profit to the company. [...] Novartis is just keeping up with other companies as they charge more and more for their drugs. They know we can’t say no.[2]
Many generic drug manufacturers did not have the proper acilities to meet drug standards. The recent prow increases are a direct result of those direct manufacturers having to spend to bring their processes up to code.
All these words don't carry meaning without proper data. Unless we know how much they've spent, how much they need to recoup & grow, these claims are vague.
> stealing the fruits of other people's labor
Without studying the merits/demerits of the patent, this is a hyperbole. I'm saying, maybe your statements are true, maybe not. But without backing up with facts, they are merely sentimental.
Here's an interesting case of drug pricing. Albendazole is a fairly common/old drug. It's a broad spectrum anthelmintic that retails for a few cents in most parts of the world. Recenty, U.S. price of albendazole has increased by >4000% to over US$100 per 200-mg tablet[1].
Another example: Novartis, the company that makes the leukemia drug Gleevec, keeps raising the drug’s price, even though the drug has already delivered billions in profit to the company. [...] Novartis is just keeping up with other companies as they charge more and more for their drugs. They know we can’t say no.[2]
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albendazole#Controversy
[2] http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/15/opinion/why-drugs-cost-so-...