This is the stuff that keeps Prasanna Subramanya Saligram up at night. https://www.vox.com/2019/4/3/18293950/why-is-insulin-so-expensive
Why does a free market for drugs lead to higher prices? Especially when the patent on insulin was given away for free, like many many other drug patents.
Universities and agencies spend billions of dollars of public money on drug research, and then give away those patents for free in public interest. They need to apply the GPLv3 or a similar license on these inventions, so that all derivative inventions and drugs are also patent free.
Most drug discovery is still done on the public dime. While profits accrue to large pharma, drugs stay unaffordable to most people, and generic drugs are targeted.
Why does a free market for drugs lead to higher prices? Especially when the patent on insulin was given away for free, like many many other drug patents.
Universities and agencies spend billions of dollars of public money on drug research, and then give away those patents for free in public interest. They need to apply the GPLv3 or a similar license on these inventions, so that all derivative inventions and drugs are also patent free.
Most drug discovery is still done on the public dime. While profits accrue to large pharma, drugs stay unaffordable to most people, and generic drugs are targeted.