The Biden administration on Thursday asserted its authority to seize the patents of certain costly medications in a new push to slash high drug prices and promote more pharmaceutical competition.
The administration unveiled a framework outlining the factors federal agencies should consider in deciding whether to use a controversial policy, known as march-in rights, to break the patents of drugs that were developed with federal funds but are not widely accessible to the public. For the first time, officials can now factor in a medication’s price — a change that could have big implications for drugmakers depending on how the government uses the powers.
“When drug companies won’t sell taxpayer-funded drugs at reasonable prices, we will be prepared to allow other companies to provide those drugs for less,” White House National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard said during a call with reporters Wednesday.
Those lives have already been ruined. Coming back years later and saying “we messed up” doesn’t give these people that time back.
Those stupid laws still exist (as outlined in my second example) and are still used against people today, including seizing their property and refusing to give it back without spending years in costly litigation, all without a single crime having been committed. You’re highlighting exactly what’s missing here: actual change. He wants the headlines inferring that he’s actually taking progressive action without having to actually change anything for the better.