So called "Off-Label" usage is totally legal in the US right now, for free. Drug companies get in trouble for advertising off-label use (that is totally verbot

So called "Off-Label" usage is totally legal in the US right now, for free. Drug companies get in trouble for advertising off-label use (that is totally verboten, the FDA regulates drug company advertising and so it can only be done for something the FDA has approved), but your doctor can prescribe something for off-label use totally legally at any time. Estimates are that about 20% of all prescriptions are for off-label use. Also, the billion dollar number is for developing a new medicine, and includes the costs of all the attempts that failed along the way, not for running tests to get an already approved drug certified for a new usage.