Hedge funder buys rights to AIDS treatment pill and raises price from $13.50 to $750

Tecumsehsbones

Tecumsehsbones

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SLM said:
So it looks like the hedge fund dude is just looking to make a fast buck.
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That's what hedge fund guys do.

The obvious solution is for either 1. another drug manufacturer to begin manufacturing pyrimethamine, or 2. the government to permit importation and sale of foreign-manufactured pyrimethamine, or 3. both.

But such is the nature of the drug regulatory process that it will be years before these solutions will be allowed by a kind, benevolent government that truly, deeply cares for us. Meanwhile, hedge fund guy has a license to print money.

So, who's to blame here? Hedge fund guy, for taking advantage of a situation of the government's making, or the government for making that situation?

(By the way, the drug "safety" regulations promote the safety of drug company profits first and foremost. Big surprise there.)
 
B00Mer

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Tecumsehsbones said:
That's what hedge fund guys do.

The obvious solution is for either 1. another drug manufacturer to begin manufacturing pyrimethamine, or 2. the government to permit importation and sale of foreign-manufactured pyrimethamine, or 3. both.

But such is the nature of the drug regulatory process that it will be years before these solutions will be allowed by a kind, benevolent government that truly, deeply cares for us. Meanwhile, hedge fund guy has a license to print money.

So, who's to blame here? Hedge fund guy, for taking advantage of a situation of the government's making, or the government for making that situation?

(By the way, the drug "safety" regulations promote the safety of drug company profits first and foremost. Big surprise there.)
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I just feel bad for the people affected by the price increase of this essential drug.

Hope they have good health coverage that will pay for this.
 
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Danbones

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I wonder where the regulators have their pension funds invested?
Hedgefunds?
 
Tecumsehsbones

Tecumsehsbones

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Here's the trick. With this little spat in the press, Turing has now set it up that they will reduce the price to "only" twice what it was before, and the reassurance that "things are OK now" will keep anybody else from getting into the pyrimethamine business, and keep the government from taking a hard look at it's regulations.

Not a bad piece of PR, really.
 
Danbones

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Tecumsehsbones said:
Here's the trick. With this little spat in the press, Turing has now set it up that they will reduce the price to "only" twice what it was before, and the reassurance that "things are OK now" will keep anybody else from getting into the pyrimethamine business, and keep the government from taking a hard look at it's regulations.

Not a bad piece of PR, really.
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the ol incremental frog boiling creep
 
Tecumsehsbones

Tecumsehsbones

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Danbones said:
the ol incremental frog boiling creep
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Yep.

By the way, in answer to your question, the regulators are forbidden from investing in the industries they regulate. Until the day they quit being regulators, and go work for the industries they've just regulated.

Nope, no incentives there!
 
Danbones

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Tecumsehsbones said:
Yep.

By the way, in answer to your question, the regulators are forbidden from investing in the industries they regulate. Until the day they quit being regulators, and go work for the industries they've just regulated.

Nope, no incentives there!
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Yes, on the surface its supposed to be fair, but there are ways around that regulation for the regulators.
Obama care for example, was written by the insurance companies and installed by the lobbyists
Codex alimentarious may be another
('pologies for the US example, but its a universal practice it seems)
 
Tecumsehsbones

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Danbones said:
Yes, on the surface its supposed to be fair, but there are ways around that regulation for the regulators.
Obama care for example, was written by the insurance companies and installed by the lobbyists
Codex alimentarious may be another
('pologies for the US example, but its a universal practice it seems)
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No problem. The subject is a U.S. issue.

If there's any good news, it's that the Wrath of the Internet can actually make a difference sometimes.
 
MHz

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Along with everything else they have ever touched, this is the one that made the news. Medicine should have no super-bugs and how much money have they made off that. 5,000% is probably their usual profit margine for all drugs.

 
Tecumsehsbones

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Danbones said:
"Medical marijuana tycoon plays down controversy over CFO job with federal Liberals"
Medical marijuana tycoon plays down controversy over CFO job with federal Liberals | National Post

here is an example closer to home
not tryin to be difficult...I'm livin the life, so it near and dear
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Nah, we're good. The revolving-door relationship between the regulators and the regulated is a well-known phenomenon. In business school, they call it "industry capture of the regulatory agency."
 
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