Re:Biohackers take aim at big pharma’s stranglehold on insulin
by DaiPlusPlus on Monday June 28, 2021 @04:11PM
(#27667306)
> Every drug company gives away their drugs for free to people who can't afford it in the US
I don't believe this is universally true though. For example, patent-encumbered novel delivery mechanisms for existing (generic) drugs, like Concerta. The drug company has nothing to gain by maintaining the administrative infrastructure for patient-assistance for drugs like that.
Another example are personalised therpaies, such as immunotherapy treatments - which cost so much because (as I understand it, please correct me if I'm wrong) they require individual experts to develop the personalized antibodies and whatnot - unlike with mass-produced medication pills/tablets/capsules that have negligible marginal cost: a company isn't going to give away a $100k therapeutic drug for free because it still is going to cost them $50k+ (numbers just made up btw).
I don't believe this is universally true though. For example, patent-encumbered novel delivery mechanisms for existing (generic) drugs, like Concerta. The drug company has nothing to gain by maintaining the administrative infrastructure for patient-assistance for drugs like that.
Another example are personalised therpaies, such as immunotherapy treatments - which cost so much because (as I understand it, please correct me if I'm wrong) they require individual experts to develop the personalized antibodies and whatnot - unlike with mass-produced medication pills/tablets/capsules that have negligible marginal cost: a company isn't going to give away a $100k therapeutic drug for free because it still is going to cost them $50k+ (numbers just made up btw).