[erinaceousjones]

Not all insulin is created equal, as the Vox article posted in this thread shows - https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2019/4/10/18302238/in... - different formulations vary in their effectiveness person-to-person regarding regulating blood sugar levels. For one person, the cheap ReliOn insulin from Walmart might allow them to manage their T1 diabetes, but for another person it might cause more incidences of hypo/hypergylcaemia.

The expensive, newer, patent-covered formulations like Lantus are what are prescribed over here in the UK - lucky that the NHS shields us from the ridiculous prices!

[tomatotomato37]

I don't get it. If the generic unimproved versions... unimprovedness is riskier, and an improved version is researched and created that removes that risk, than why should the new formula of the new version not be under patent?

[dunstad]

If you think about the rules of our current system, your conclusion makes perfect sense. I and others don't think the rules of the current system are very good if they're preventing us from giving people better quality of life.

[themaninthedark]

I purchased an OS 8 years ago, if I want to buy the same modern OS from the maker it now cost more money.

I purchased a car from a manufacturer, the base price was 20,000. Now the same model car has the base price 25,000. Sure, they added side impact airbags, backup cameras and lane assist but why can't I buy it for 20,000?

If you and others who think like you dislike the current system and want to improve everyone's quality of life, you are quite welcome to invest the time and capital to start a drug research lab, invent new and novel medicine, patent it, get it FDA approved then license it to anyone who wants to make and sell it.

Volvo was committed to the idea of safety that when they developed a seatbelt system they did just that.

The idea of taking someone's work with out paying them fair compensation is akin to slavery. The only difference it that slavery is forcing someone to do something and this is promising someone compensation then withholding it.

Now, if we believe that this new formulation is so revolutionary and would be such a great benefit then why not just buy the patent from the maker? Put together a company, raise the funds. Anything can be bought and sold. The only question is price. Trying to force the government to use a version of eminent domain by lying about the situation to the public to spark outrage is scummy.

[dunstad]

I'm not going to try to persuade you that the negatives of capitalism outweigh the positives, but if you're interested in learning why I believe what I do I'd be happy to direct you to where you can find out.

[rland]

The new version is not under patent, the patent expired on it several years ago.