Oops...oversight on my part regarding larryb/jerry.

There are a hundred variables that effect drug cost...my question is what new variables will be added to the pile if HR3200 passes?

Here is some backgroud reading: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/us/08lobby.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=drug%20companies&st=cse

I know many/most people think of big pharma as evil to some degree. The conflict, though, is that it is big pharma that makes the drugs that help people...not acedemics and only rarely biotechs. Yes, the costs of drugs up until the patent expires is high. The reason is that an approved drug has to pay for all of that drug's research, development, clinical trials, and activities surrounding FDA approval PLUS that drug has to pay for all of the research, development, and clinical trials for other drugs that a given company tried, but failed, to get on the market. Consider that >90% of drugs that a company pays to discover/develop never gets approval...and all of those efforts need to be paid for. There are two sad outcomes: 1) Pharma has to charge a lot of money for drugs once it is approved by the FDA but for a finite span (during the life of the patent). 2) Pharma can only risk investment in the development of drugs that target major diseases. The usual number that is given for a worthwhile discovery effort is the potential for $1 billion a year for it's patent life. As a consequence Pharma can't afford to develop drugs that target rarer diseases, so the number of diseases with unmet needs is staggering...and depressing as hell. On top of everything else nearly all of the big pharma companies are in real trouble right now. They are facing a "patent cliff" where by 2012 nearly all of the big money maker drugs are coming off of patent so generics, as they should, will quickly saturate the market. All of big pharma is currently scrambling to overcome this patent cliff. Some are buying other companies (i.e. buying research and development) while others are drastically downsizing...sometimes both. I suppose there are some that like the fact the big/evil pharma is hurting and on top of that they may have to foot part of the bill for HR3200...thereby adding to the hurt. I look at the situation more from the perspective of how hurting drug makers will impact human health in years to come. Some media sources say pharma will pay while others say they support the proposed bill...I haven't swallowed either but it would be nice to know the truth.