Carrier Michael A
J Leg Med. 2019 Apr-Jun;39(2):151-167. doi: 10.1080/01947648.2019.1645540.
U.S. consumers pay high drug prices. Brand-name drug companies claim that these prices are justified by pathbreaking research and development. But, sometimes the prices result from anticompetitive conduct. This article offers three case studies of how such behavior can increase price based on wakefulness drug Provigil, the allergic-reaction-treating EpiPen, and infection-treating Daraprim. The article contends that behavior that makes no sense other than by harming a competitor, that undercuts a regulatory regime, or that involves collusive conduct should not be protected. In targeting this behavior, antitrust scrutiny promises to lower drug prices.
美国消费者为药品支付高昂价格。品牌制药公司称，这些价格是由开创性的研发工作所支撑的。但有时，这些价格是反竞争行为导致的。本文提供了三个案例研究，分别涉及促醒药物安非他酮、治疗过敏反应的肾上腺素笔以及治疗感染的达拉匹林，探讨此类行为是如何抬高价格的。本文认为，除了损害竞争对手外毫无意义、破坏监管制度或涉及勾结行为的做法不应受到保护。针对这种行为进行反垄断审查有望降低药品价格。
