Summary

Over 250 branded drugs in the U.S. will see price increases starting Jan. 1, 2025, with most hikes below 10% and a median increase of 4.5%.

Key companies like Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Sanofi are raising prices on treatments for COVID-19, cancer, and vaccines, citing R&D costs and inflation.

Some prices, such as Merck’s diabetes drugs, will be reduced.

Critics highlight that U.S. drug prices remain the highest globally, while manufacturers face pressure to moderate year-over-year price hikes.

  • @WoodScientist
    1•5 days ago

    We should make being a billionaire like trying to run the wrong way up a downward escalator, or like trying to swim up a waterfall. A wealth tax on wealth over $10 million. Starts at zero and exponentially rises to the point where at $1 billion of wealth, you need to be making a 50% rate of return on your investments to stay above $1 billion. Getting richer and richer should be like trying to swim against the current of a river, as that river flows faster and faster.

    One cool feature of doing this would mean that if you saw someone who managed to stay a billionaire, it means they actually do have some pretty good business acumen. I’m not impressed by a capitalist who was born rich and simply grew their hoard. I would be impressed by someone who managed to stay a billionaire even with the state taxing 50% of their wealth on an annual basis.

    • @[email protected]
      3•5 days ago

      You should know wage theft (business owners not paying their workers) is the largest form of theft. It’s not enough to have a progressive wealth tax, we need a fully funded CFPB, aggressive anti-monopoly enforcement and full union representation to prevent someone with “good business acumen” to use their market dominance unfairly.