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.

  • agent_flounder@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    No disagreements here. I am kind of shocked by this very non neolib behavior—the above as well as well as being the first sitting president to join the UAW picket line. I was a bit miffed about the train strike, though. But his administration lobbied the companies and got them their sick days they’ve been fighting for, for ages. Really didn’t expect any of that.

    • RainfallSonata@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Non neolib? Introducing competition rather than seizing and making them public is about as neolib as you can get.

      • agent_flounder@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        So by letting a company keep their monopoly due to federally subsidized patent thus harming citizens but helping the company is… less neolib?

        Whatever it is, it seems shittier than making a move to fuck a company – if it results in reduced drug prices anyway.

        • SCB@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          So by letting a company keep their monopoly due to federally subsidized patent thus harming citizens but helping the company is… less neolib?

          Yes. Monopolization is one of the many externalities that government exists to address within a neoliberal framework

          • SCB@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            It’s only controversial if your only understanding of economic orthodoxy is Breadtube or some shit lol