[pergadad]

Seems the key issue is that they can't supply enough which creates a shortage for the Netherlands as the machines (?) rely on this specific product. It's called lock-in and is every company's dream. But the situation is severe enough that a strong government like NL and the EU won't let them get away with it. If you're a big company one the things you really want to avoid is the European Commission coming after you for antitrust rules, that's where for once legislation has teeth and the price tag for abuse can be steep.

[the-dude]

Your parent claims it is a generic solution.

I am confused what the problem actually is.

[kokx]

Even though it is a generic solution, they apparently use a slight modification in the recipe (not which components, but the amounts) on which the machines are calibrated. You could reproduce this, but it costs time and you need specialized equipment that only a few labs have. With this disclosure, labs can produce their own without that research.

[the-dude]

Thanks so much for the clarification.

Couldn't you just put the solution through a gas chromatography machine?

[HarryHirsch]

There is an epidemic going on, and personnel have better things to do than optimizing a buffer to play nice with your thermocycler.

Any time there is a monopoly, prices have nothing to do with the cost of production and everything with what the market is going to bear, and no one but the monopolist benefits. And then the monopolist comes and wants to suborn the power monopoly of the government to sustain its profits. Come again, why should the European Union put the financial wellbeing of Roche above the health of Dutch citizens? We used to have antitrust, but nowadays even right-to-repair is controversial.

[the-dude]

I wasn't saying that at all. I was just wondering about 'how hard can it be?'.

It just needs to be analysed once. And there is a ton of researchers available who are not medical personnel.

But if you want to argue : this whole Roche saga conveniently diverts the attention away from the lack of action of our government.

[prostheticvamp]

If I am not mistaken, gas chromatography gives you composition, not proportions. That’s not a minor hurdle in this discussion.

[rubidium]

No. Manufacturing is about process engineering. Knowing the physical components is only 20% of the work.