[genderwhy]

[Citation very much needed]

[bhawks]

The article directly explains this.

# 1 competition works

> When a company develops a new drug, it gets a period of exclusivity, 10 years or more, in which it is the only one able to make or sell that drug. But after that exclusivity period has passed, other companies can make a carbon copy and sell it at a lower price. Studies find that once several generic competitors come on the market, prices drop significantly.

# 2 big pharma has hacked regulations for prescription drugs, medical devices and generic replacement to prevent losing federal government granted monopolies.

> But pharma companies are savvy about finding ways to extend their monopolies, with insulin and other drugs, by making minor tweaks to the chemical compound and asking for a patent extension. In the case of insulin, the companies can also modify the delivery device to protect their market share. Each product is meant to be used with specific, company-designed injectors.

This is a government created problem.

[genderwhy]

Thanks. That's the opposite (the government is protecting corporate interests too much) of what the usual "It's the feds fault" usually implies.

[ars]

I've heard the part of the tweaks multiple times, and no one has ever explained why competitors can't just make the perfectly fine untweaked version.

[westmeal]

I think what the GP was trying to say is they could easily solve this problem however letting it happen and blabbering about fixing the issue is easier and more profitable than actually doing anything.