Discuss the situation, debate the questions and express your opinion giving any other real examples: Creating products to die for It is not surprising that pharmaceutical companies’ marketing plans call for heavy emphasis on new product development.

Discuss the situation, debate the questions and express your opinion giving any other real
examples:
Creating products to die for
It is not surprising that pharmaceutical companies’ marketing plans call for heavy emphasis on new
product development. These companies rely on a stream of new products to stay ahead of competitors.
However, developing a new blockbuster drug is expensive in R&D. To recoup the high cost of new
product development these companies often charge high prices for their drugs. They do not lower the
price even in countries where consumers cannot afford to pay high prices. Critics say that pharmaceutical
companies have a moral obligation to subsidize drug prices in poor countries. The companies counter that
they would have no incentive to develop life-saving drugs if they subsidized prices.
1. Should pharmaceutical companies be mandated by law to sell their products at lower prices in
poor countries?
2. Discuss the pros and cons of this approach.