Cost of developing new drugs may be lower than industry claims: trial

Drug companies are unambiguously out of control. Some of these new molecules don't even need to be invented, they're just legally distinct repackaging of something they can't gouge on anymore. These companies could, if they had an incentive to do so, research effective off-label uses of existing drugs, say. But there's no money in that. There is a ton of money in making legally distinct "new" drugs that do the same thing as newly-generic drugs. It's unacceptable what they get away with.

Covid ought to have been the final straw that brought all sides together to do something about drug companies.

that we so rapidly transitioned to --and away from-- a rapid, effective and universal free COVID vaccine for the majority of americans in such a relatively short period of time without any sincere discussion or commentary from news media or public policy officials really spoke volumes to me about the kind of national policy the United States is either pursuing with conscientious determination, or blithe indifference.

we could have done covid style vaccines for a litany of other incredibly dangerous yet common causes of death in the US like flu shots and HPV, but we dont. we charge real moneys for these things as though the cost of the development of the drug itself isnt borne almost exclusively by the taxpayer.