Non-profit’s $300 hepatitis C cure as effective as $84k alternative

Re:Non-profit’s $300 hepatitis C cure as effective as $84k a... by golergka on Thursday April 12, 2018 @06:23AM (#16819421)

Imagine that you, a regular person, invest all of your family's pension and other savings in a company that specializes on drug research.

How would you feel about drug prices then?

Would you be OK if all your investment went towards research that could never be paid back for? It would cure a lot of people and do a lot of good in the world, you know. Are you OK with spending all of your family's money for a good cause like that?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Non-profit’s $300 hepatitis C cure as effective as $84k a... by ramblerman on Thursday April 12, 2018 @06:28AM (#16819442)

pretty financially irresponsible.

As to your point, making an emotional plea works against you in this case, because there will always be a point where the greater good trumps pure profits.

Take the simple thought experiment that 99% of the world will die in 1 month unless they get treated with this new drug. Would you really argue we should seal it off from the general public.

Now just move the slider to the left (98%) and repeat the experiment.

My point being, there certainly is a middle ground, where regulation and free market enterprise meet when it comes to medicine.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Non-profit’s $300 hepatitis C cure as effective as $84k a... by pjc50 on Thursday April 12, 2018 @07:34AM (#16819765)

Imagine investing all your family's pension in arms manufacturers, and then a war not starting. How would you feel about that?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Non-profit’s $300 hepatitis C cure as effective as $84k a... by golergka on Friday April 13, 2018 @04:58AM (#16828157)

I would feel bad and not invest in these companies anymore.

Is that what you want for companies that research drugs?

[ Parent | on HN ]