Mr. Sullivan,
I believe you've got a bit of a non sequitur in your post about a 400% price
jump of HIV drugs. I'd imagine that that price rocketed simply due to economics 101, that is to say, functions of fluctuations in supply and demand, good substitutability/complementation, as well as any market monopolistic qualities Abbott may possess.
How does this have anything to do with toxicity of the drug's initial iteration?
I understand this issue is near and dear to your heart, which is why I am
furthermore saddened by the lack of depth in this post. Perhaps you could have explained the economics of why the price has jumped, characterize the
uncertainty in the pharmaceutical world that is R&D and type I and type II
errors, and do what you do best: analyze the government's potential role in
responding to this issue, if at all.
Hell, you could have dovetailed it nicely with your fiscal irresponsibility post and charged fund/political energies misappropriation. I nag because I care; you're an amazing mouthpiece for the politically sane, and I'd be remiss not to point out an opportunity where you can use it.
Cordially,
Patrick J. Woods