The Biden administration is putting pharmaceutical companies on notice. Washington is warning them that if the price of certain drugs is too high, the government might cancel their patent protection and allow rivals to make their own versions.

The Biden administration is putting pharmaceutical companies on notice, warning them that if the price of certain drugs is too high, the government might cancel their patent protection and allow rivals to make their own versions.

Under a plan announced Thursday, the government would consider overriding the patent for high-priced drugs that have been developed with the help of taxpayer money and letting competitors make them in hopes of driving down the cost.

In a 15-second video released to YouTube on Wednesday night, President Joe Biden promised the move would lower prices.

“Today, we’re taking a very important step toward ending price gouging so you don’t have to pay more for the medicine you need,” he said.

  • The Uncanny Observer@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    6·
    10 months ago

    If it’s developed with taxpayer dollars, it should not be patented by a corporation. I don’t care what it is we’re talking about. Taxpayer money is supposed to go to improving the lives of Americans, not enriching corporations.

    • orbitz@lemmy.ca
      1·
      10 months ago

      The only argument I can see is maybe if the grant (whatever it is called) only covers for partial, so like if the government adds in $10k, then that shouldn’t be the same as them funding the whole thing (this number is not exact I got no idea on true amounts). So some leeway but they shouldn’t get a full patent if taxpayers money is used on it for sure.

      Though then you’ll get some creative accounting to show the government spent less percentage than thought and all that so it sucks but something needs to make sure taxpayers get what they paid for.

      • The Uncanny Observer@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        01·
        10 months ago

        I’m slightly surprised. You don’t see many bootlickers on Lemmy. Listen, no matter how much you deepthroat your boss’s footwear, you’re never going to be part of the capitalist class. You’re gonna die a nobody, by your own reckoning, and your heroes are never going to have even cared that you existed.

        You poor, sad little man.