As a virologist & biotech investor, I had a thread go viral on why no vaccine for “common cold” coronaviruses doesn't mean we can't make one for COVID (I explain why we can & will). By popular demand, I wrote an article: A Cure for the Common Misconception city-journal.org/covid-19-our-a…
Also, in an earlier piece @CityJournal published on COVID, I pointed out how “cost effectiveness” math conventional health economist use to claim drugs are overpriced totally fails to consider their new uses, like maybe saving us from a new pandemic virus. city-journal.org/coronavirus-va…
That’s part of bigger debate whether medicines in America are overpriced. Yes, for patients (insurance!). No for society if they go generic. I explain in a short book w/stories & analogies in same style as my tweets/articles that will make biotech clear. thegreatamericandrugdeal.com
Read this book especially if you really want to know what you can legitimately dislike about the drug industry (yes, there are some dark practices) yet suspect that it maybe it’s not as bad as it’s made out (eg if you enjoy thinking Freakonomically instead of conventionally).
The part about insurance will make your jaw drop & check your plan. I cover DTC advertising, EpiPen, why it’s good for US that drug companies charge less in other countries, good price controls, stopping price-jacking, alternatives to patents, & the Biotech Social Contract.
And if you work in biotech/pharma, you should arm yourself with data & arguments in this book b/c it’s just a matter of time before your grandmother blames you for her unaffordable meds over family dinner... she’s right about the problem, and you can be right about the solution.
