[ChemistCat]

Well, it is the lot of the man who didn't fall among thieves to care for those who have. There surely is no greater thief than a fatal disease. I'm not saying it makes economic sense to do it, but I know it makes moral sense. We eliminated smallpox....

(we hope)

It's going to happen anyway if the vaccine works. No one notices how much good pharmaceutical companies have done...and if they are not shrinking from curing the source of profit...that's a wonderful thing, and only Western Civilization can claim credit for this degree of philanthropism. How many diseases has Islam cured?

[B. Rabbit]

Excellent points, and you are probably better read on the subject then I am. However:

"and only Western Civilization can claim credit for this degree of philanthropism"

To warp a cliche, crap in one hand and put all of your claimed credit in the other and see which one fills up the fastest. Pharm Corporations haven't died because of the exploitation of their products... yet.