[Halm]

Three issues here as I best remember. First, it does cost a ton of money to bring a drug to market. The FDA PMA (pre Market Approval) process can take years and with each passing day more data is demanded. Data means a PhD or MD doing more research and more documentation. And we're talking dozens and dozens of these guys. Second, they never know when the government is going to allow your patent to be voided in the name of public health. Better make your $$$ while you can. Finally, no matter how much a drug is tested, you will be sued by someone some time. Better have a boat load of insurance.

And those third world nations you mention just copy our patents, blantenly ripping off our research. Producing the drugs is usually cheap. Their govenments protect these oulaw companies so that they can sell the meds cheap in their countries.

As Moses said, how do you balance the need for innovation that produces these wonder drugs with the need for reasonable pricing? Tough question, no?