Big Pharma

The big pharmaceutical companies just can't help gripping everybody's shit, can they?

Not content with continuing to charge outrageous sums for their products and hiding their huge spending on doctor inducements and TV commercials behind the thin veil of "Research & Development Costs", they've now found a brand new way to continue gouging the American public.

Reuters announced that in 2007, the US Federal Trade Commission discovered 'big pharma' struck FOURTEEN deals which have ALL led to the delayed sale of various cheaper generic drugs. In these deals, 'big pharma' paid off the generic manufacturers with financial "compensation" in respect of delaying production of their version.

Bear in mind here that generic versions of a drug can be priced as low as 10% of their previous cost, thus helping the sick and elderly to benefit immensely.

But, it would seem, no-one is benefiting except the pharmaceutical companies, who maintain their immoral stranglehold... even when the FTC considers the deals to be a violation of antitrust laws.

It is noted in the article that a certain Barack Obama, senator for Illinois, is one of ten sponsors of Senate legislation trying to ensure these deals are made illegal. As he has made his bid for the Presidency based on taking zero donation money from big corporations or lobbying interests, I would love for him to eventually stick a knife in the side of these greedy trough-snorting pigs.

Why? .... because right now the bill has not got very far due to opposition from, yep you guessed it... the pharmaceutical companies.

Oh, and the generic manufacturers who are evidently profiting - and profiteering - from having to do absolutely fuck all!