General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWe already paid for COVID-19 treatments, we shouldn't have to pay twice.
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/03/we-already-paid-for-covid-19-treatments-we-cannot-let-big-pharma-make-us-pay-again/Theres much we dont yet know about COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. We dont know how long the pandemic will last, when a vaccine will be developed, or how many lives antiviral medications can save. But theres one thing we know for sure: U.S. taxpayers have already paid for the research and testing of the most promising treatments.
These treatments should be available to everyone who needs them at no cost. But the Trump administrations drug policy is led by two former pharmaceutical executives, and that is having devastating consequences for potential access to treatments and vaccines for the COVID-19 pandemic.
If youve been watching Donald Trumps daily press briefings, that might come as a surprise. During his 2016 campaign, Trump loved to talk tough on pharma and say he would fight for lower drug prices. But then he put Alex Azar, a big pharma CEO infamous for doubling the price of insulin, in charge of regulating health care. Several weeks ago, Azar refused to guarantee that a coronavirus vaccine will be affordable for all, citing the need to protect big pharmas profits.
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Trump fails to mention that taxpayers have spent nearly $700 million on coronavirus research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Nor does he mention that big pharma corporations spend more money enriching themselves through stock buybacks than they do on research and development.
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GD vultures
area51
(11,868 posts)alwaysinasnit
(5,037 posts)be considered a secondary benefit to the profit-making).
TwilightZone
(25,342 posts)No idea where that number is coming from, though my guess is thin air. Moderna says the cost will be comparable to pneumonia vax, which is $240.
https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/03/04/moderna-ceo-says-its-coronavirus-vaccine-will-be-a.aspx
alwaysinasnit
(5,037 posts)the potential for price gouging is there. I posted this yesterday.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213168149
TwilightZone
(25,342 posts)Several companies - sixteen at last count - are developing them concurrently. If one is priced at $240, Gilead won't get $10k a dose.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/these-nine-companies-are-working-on-coronavirus-treatments-or-vaccines-heres-where-things-stand-2020-03-06
alwaysinasnit
(5,037 posts)TwilightZone
(25,342 posts)The company developing one says it will be comparable to pneumonia vax, which is $240.
https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/03/04/moderna-ceo-says-its-coronavirus-vaccine-will-be-a.aspx