Reply #15: Once that's covered, then the stats are pretty much correct, right? [View All]

[FormerDittoHead]

Mainstream pharma still charges $2 a pill for many drugs which have gone generic.

I know this because some doctors, for their own reasons, prescribe the non-generic, and tell their patients to insist upon the manufacturer's brand. This is happening in my own family. My father in law jumps though hoops / travels to certain drugs stores to avoid the generics for reasons which, I don't believe, are very scientific. Chemically, they are identical.

I totally get how R&D should be in the calculation, but here's a question:

How about advertising? Should advertising and promotion be included in a "reasonable/outrageous" profit discussion when pharma spends so much on advertising and promotion when perhaps they shouldn't? (like 20 years ago)