Of course it wouldn't happen that way. Instead, what if the maker of a drug or medical device found that they were the only ones making it because patents had l

Of course it wouldn't happen that way. Instead, what if the maker of a drug or medical device found that they were the only ones making it because patents had long ago expired on it and it wasn't the new hotness. They could say: shit, let's increase the price 10x, and if someone else ramps up production, then we can lower our price again, but in the meantime we've obtained piles of cash. But there is a PR price to be paid when the public finds out that the company is gouging people who have eczema or whatever the drug treats. Some companies obviously do decide to go that route and either are hoping nobody notices, or are willing to pay the PR price. Others obviously are willing to accept a certain return on their boring drug and leave well enough alone.