Why do new medicines cost so much, and what can we do about it?

Why do new medicines cost so much, and what can we do about it? The cost of new drugs is putting increasing pressure on people in both rich and poor countries. Sarah Boseley explains why it’s a burning issue

Why does it matter what medicines cost?

If you are lucky enough to live in a country with comprehensive state-funded healthcare, such as the UK, you probably have no idea how much medicines really cost. But it can be a lot. Some drugs that have been around for ages are very cheap – aspirin, for instance, costs pence. It’s been out of patent and made by numerous companies competing to undercut each other’s price for decades. But new medicines, protected by 20-year patents, can cost hundreds of pounds a packet and sometimes thousands. The new breast cancer drug Kadcyla weighed in at a starting price of £90,000 per patient per year in the UK in 2015, though the manufacturer has now agreed a hefty discount for the NHS. Continue reading... The Guardian