[cman1444]

And yet, if the system wasn't set up this way it's likely that these medicines would never have been developed in the first place.

If we take away investor returns now, why would they ever pursue developing similarly effective drugs in the future?

[cess11]

On the contrary, profit motive and immaterial rights slow down innovation and the spread of new technologies.

This is why states are the main producers of knowledge and funding most of the interesting research.

[CobrastanJorji]

Good point, maybe researching drugs and treatments shouldn't be done primarily by for-profit companies, and governments should take this on themselves.