Prohibitively expensive medication

[Boozy]

Some medications are expensive because they cost millions of dollars in R&D costs to produce them. Then their manufacturers are protected by the patent system for a certain length of time, so no generics can compete with them on the market.

Once the patent protection wears off, generics flood the market and prices come down. The longer the drug is available, the cheaper it becomes. I can now buy 50 aspirin for $2.99.

It's not really a vast conspiracy to rip off consumers. The pharmaceutical lobby causes a lot of problems, no doubt, but the patent system itself is necessary if we want ground-breaking and life-saving drugs to be developed. Without it, no pharmaceutical company would ever make a profit on their inventions.

[joe hx]

Without it, no pharmaceutical company would ever make a profit on their inventions.

And hence those life-saving prescriptions wouldn't exist.

[EmiOfBrie]

And hence those life-saving prescriptions wouldn't exist.

And thus is a major failing of human society.

"if we can't make millions off this live-saving research, we simply won't do it!"

Not everything has to be about profit!!! It never occurs to them to simply do the research just to save lives. assholes... -.-

[Boozy]

Not everything has to be about profit!!! It never occurs to them to simply do the research just to save lives. assholes... -.-

I'm sure a number of scientists would love to devote their lives to developing new drugs free of charge, but they have to support themselves and their families.

I would love to donate 100% of my work time to charity too, but I have to eat.