[tastygreenapple]

There's a huge hidden cost to price controls through - they don't promote innovation as much as markets do. The US develops over half the world's new pharmaceuticals, if we imposed price controls today, we would have fewer life saving medications tomorrow because the companies couldn't afford to do as much R&D.

[gmadsen]

well considering we already subsidize the early R&D for these companies with our University system, and insulin hasn't changed in 50 years, I see no reason we can't price control certain drugs. Could even use this as a guide https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHO_Model_List_of_Essential_Me...

[RHSeeger]

> insulin hasn't changed in 50 years

That is false. The insulins sold today are MUCH better than the ones sold 50 years ago. They're much better than the ones sold 25 years ago. Admittedly, the ones sold 25 years ago are effective, but it is much more convenient using an insulin that kicks in in 15-20 minutes and has a relatively short peak than one that kicks in in 30-60 minutes and has a long peak. It's doable either way, but the quality of life is much different.

[wetpaws]

Pretty sure people who's only other alternative is death would be fine with the old and slightly less effective insulin

[RHSeeger]

I agree with you 100%. I was only addressing the statement that insulin hadn't changed in 50 years.

[renewiltord]

Trivially untrue, right? Recombinant DNA technology is younger than 50 years so we used porcine insulin before that. It'll still work, honestly, if you're up for it.

[tshaddox]

Let's make sure people in their 20s aren't dying because they can't afford insulin before we start worrying about how to promote innovation in the insulin market.

[Reason077]

If drugs are too expensive, then at some point more lives/quality of lives are lost because people can't access them than are saved from more drug development.

A balance must be found between ensuring fair access at affordable prices, and ensuring fair returns to the pharma industry. This is precisely the goal of pharmaceutical price regulation in the UK:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_Price_Regulatio...

[watwut]

I think that there are Americans who don't feel like volunteering to pay money they don't have food drugs they need for that.

[badrequest]

What innovation does insulin production for diabetics require?

[heavyset_go]

Much of drug R&D is funded through the NIH.