I guess you've never considered the import restrictions and price supports on Agricultural products. Drug makers are forced to sell their drugs at steep discounts by other countries and in turn for this, the countries agree not to allow these drugs to be re-imported. Of course, these countries have broken their agreements. Why some here don't think these countries should be forced to uphold the agreements they sign is beyond me.
when most of the R&D is now going on in Asia.
This article makes clear that almost ninety percent of the world's supply of new drugs are discovered right here in the US. Asia is a long way from being able to provide the infrastructure necessary in chemistry, physics and instrument analysis. They also don't have the university system, hospitals, doctors and educated work force required for a successful R&D industry. Finally, most Asian nations practice price controls and do not offer the tax benefits and intellectual property protections that the US does. There is a reason countries with price controls don't produce new drugs. The vast majority of drug innovation occurs here and that's not going to change any time soon.
A lot of the cost of prescription drugs in the US has more to do with advertising.
You should probably spend a little time looking at drug company financials. Pharmaceutical companies spend more than 20% of gross revenue on research and development. The average spent in R&D for all industries is just 4%. Of course, we could have government tell the drug companies how they can advertise and what they can spend. That would be a conservative thing to do. Could you imagine Reagan offering that as a solution instead of demanding that the nanny states who benefit at our expense end their price controls?
If all drug advertising was reduced or ended completely, you'd have to rely on your doctor for all the information you need to know about what treatments are available to you. And we all know that doctors are motivated solely by what's in your best interest. LOL