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There are antitrust actions that would beg to differ. >What started as an antitrust lawsuit brought by states over just two drugs in 2016 has exploded into an

There are antitrust actions that would beg to differ. >What started as an antitrust lawsuit brought by states over just two drugs in 2016 has exploded into an investigation of alleged price-fixing involving at least 16 companies and 300 drugs, said Joseph Nielsen, an assistant attorney general and antitrust investigator in Connecticut who has been a leading force in the probe. “This is most likely the largest cartel in the history of the United States,” Nielsen said. In just one instance of extraordinary cost surges, the price of a decades-old drug to ease asthma symptoms — albuterol, sold by generic manufacturers Mylan and Sun — jumped more than 3,400%, from 13 cents a tablet to more than $4.70. https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-generic-drugs-prices-20181213-story.html https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-generic-drugs-prices-...

refurb 7y ago
Doesn’t it make more sense to prosecute the companies rather than just bypassing them by making it yourself? Also, CA wouldn’t be making the drug, but rather contracting with a generic company.
- toomuchtodo 7y ago
  It makes sense to establish your own manufacturing capacity for critical infrastructure (pharma production) in order to have the necessary control, while also suing for antitrust actions (and, if feasible, using extracted penalties to bootstrap the state’s initiative).
  - refurb 7y ago
    But this is being framed as cost saving. Critical infrastructure? Sure, that makes sense. But I highly doubt there will be much cost savings.
    - toomuchtodo 7y ago
      Doubts are reasonable. Government should be held accountable. Reserve judgment until after the attempt and there’s data. Isn’t this what we want? For government to iterate to improve quality of life for citizens?
    - GeekyBear 7y ago
      I'm quite certain that the cost of making albuterol didn't suddenly rise by three thousand percent. How is bypassing that sort of extortionate pricing not a clear price savings?

refurb 7y ago

Doesn’t it make more sense to prosecute the companies rather than just bypassing them by making it yourself? Also, CA wouldn’t be making the drug, but rather contracting with a generic company.

toomuchtodo 7y ago
It makes sense to establish your own manufacturing capacity for critical infrastructure (pharma production) in order to have the necessary control, while also suing for antitrust actions (and, if feasible, using extracted penalties to bootstrap the state’s initiative).
- refurb 7y ago
  But this is being framed as cost saving. Critical infrastructure? Sure, that makes sense. But I highly doubt there will be much cost savings.
  - toomuchtodo 7y ago
    Doubts are reasonable. Government should be held accountable. Reserve judgment until after the attempt and there’s data. Isn’t this what we want? For government to iterate to improve quality of life for citizens?
  - GeekyBear 7y ago
    I'm quite certain that the cost of making albuterol didn't suddenly rise by three thousand percent. How is bypassing that sort of extortionate pricing not a clear price savings?