Drug Price Gouging OK'd [Go Bush Go! (away)]

[tommcintyre]

http://multinationalmonitor.org/mm2004/09012004/september04front.html

The National Institutes of Health in August refused to exercise its authority to permit generic competition for an HIV/AIDS drug invented on a government grant that public health advocates say is wildly overpriced.
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Following the price increase, Norvir is 5 to 10 times more expensive in the United States than in other high-income countries.

"Essential Inventions is asking the Bush Administration to adopt a simple rule -- U.S. consumers should not pay more for drugs invented on government grants," said Essential Inventions President James Love.

But NIH rejected this proposal, arguing that companies that obtained licenses to government-funded inventions have a duty only to commercialize the inventions. NIH does not have authority to consider the price at which a product is sold, and the impact of the price on access, the agency ruled.

Is This Teasonable?

[WildClarySage]

1. They have a DUTY to commercialize???/

that is just fucked up.

[tommcintyre]

2. Yep, we are expected to serve capitalism, not us first priority