Opioid Price Benefit Analysis

“Last February, the price of Evzio, an auto-injected drug that is used to treat opioid overdose, jumped to over $4,000 — from just $690 in 2014 — just as demand for the medicine was quickly rising.” states the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons). Price hikes for prescription drugs have become a recurring problem. They’ve gotten so expensive that many people can’t afford them, and they seem to only be getting more expensive. Though many would argue that it’s a business’ choice if they want to raise the price of their product, it’s dangerous to allow them to do so. Pharmaceutical companies should have a set price limit, otherwise the skyrocket of prices hurt those who rely on the now expensive drugs. For example, the life saving EpiPen has gone up by more than $500, making the current price now around $609 (Khazan). Of course, EpiPens aren’t the only drugs to have their prices skyrocket. For example, the price for Evzio, a drug used to treat opioid overdoses, has risen from $690 to $4,000 as the demand for the product grew (“Why Our Drugs Cost So Much”). Though some people may point out that much of the money goes to research and development, the fact is that they’re still overcharging and leave people unable to afford drugs they desperately need. The median salary for a CEO of a pharmaceutical company is more than any other industry, at a
During the panic caused by Ebola, the big pharmaceutical companies didn’t even attempt to find a cure for the deadly virus. Though people may say that it was Africa’s problem, it did end up spreading into the United States. And, instead of putting effort into helping, large drug companies sat out as small biotech firms and government agencies scrambled to put a stop to Ebola. The lack of regulations on big pharmaceutical companies puts us all in danger, and leaves them free to avoid large medical emergencies if it doesn’t get them enough money in