[Boogieman]

And how does the free market do that for drugs that are still under patent, with no generic alternatives?

[PGR88]

And how does the free market do that for drugs that are still under patent, with no generic alternatives?

Patents not only belong to drug companies, but universities, cancer institutes, researchers - and yes, people like Anthony Fauci, his cronies and the NIH.

MIT, for example, earns >$1 billion per year on patents and IP its Profs, PhDs and students helped develop (much of this is computer and tech, but you can look up similar figures for biotech-focused universities).

I know a PhD candidate in quantum physics at MIT who, upon entering, had to sign away all IP and developments done in her research to the University.

Particularly for Pharma, this has developed into a highly lucrative, insider grift. Fed.gov/NIH/Fauci give public grant money, hold patents, drugs are developed - for which then our crony-socialist government pays through the nose for Medicaid/Medicare (same with defense)

[MeanWestTexan]

Exactly.

I am 100% a free market guy.

But patented drugs are not a free market.

[hinckley buzzard]

That is a major underlying dilemma. How does the free market work when you have a government-enforced monopoly on a critical product. I would like to hear Johnson’s answer.