[tracker1]

But pharma companies aren't competing in a free market... I can't by (prescription X) from a canadian drug store. So it's not globalized, except for the protectionist patent laws and treaties surrounding them.

It's time to reign in patent protections, specifically regarding extension patents, and bring in compulsory license maximums for prescription medicines. Give drug companies 5 years exclusivity once they react market... after that they can only charge X per day for licensing... imho that should probably be $10/day/prescription, and drop every year.

[refurb]

Price controls work so well in general, why not try them in pharmaceuticals?

[tracker1]

I'd much rather eliminate patent protections, but they do serve limited value.. the licensing restrictions for medications after 5 years at market is mainly to limit patent protections, while still providing some profit. I didn't say the company couldn't make agreements for higher, or lower amounts via contract arrangement.

Patent protections, in this case, and many others actually exceed the value they provide to larger society, so I'm in favor of limiting them in this case as opposed to removing them entirely. I understand there are a great amount of expense, but that is usually recouped within 3-5 years, and often in medication less than that.

Earlier competition will lead to better pricing structures that are less restrictive over marginalized costs. In effect benefitting consumers.

The key point in the constitution behind copyright and patents are "limited" exclusivity... those limits don't always have to be larger... sometimes they need to be smaller, and some industries aren't the same as others.