Medical advances come at a cost, and that cost is increasingly steep. We rely on pharmaceutical companies, as well as public and philanthropic investment, to develop the medicines that can transform and even save lives. New drugs emerge not according to need, but when companies know they can make sizable profits from them. Some diseases or conditions – particularly those prevalent in poorer countries – are ignored, while treatment for other health problems may come at a heavy price. Other companies have budged in similar circumstances; but the drug’s maker, Vertex, refuses to do so.

Source: The Guardian February 03, 2019 18:45 UTC