Addressing the cost of bringing a drug to market:

Most drug companies that discover drugs that WORK and run the initial trials are small companies. When they get the data that shows promising results, they usually sell a portion of the rights to that drug to a larger drug company, who then funds the rest of the trials. When the drug does come to market the income from the drug is shared according to the agreement made.

This usually works to the benefit of both companies. It doesn't ALWAYS work out that way. There are drug companies who have been known to cut the throat of their partner in order to gain the whole package. They don't always win.

The cost of trials is the most expensive part of drug development. The FDA is on a rampage right now, and there are drugs today that have been through trials designed in collaboration with the FDA, showed efficacy, and are still denied BY the FDA. The FDA is overstepping their regulatory bounds, and a LOT of money and research is moving away from some major diseases, because after all the money they spend to GET the drugs to end stages , they are being denied approval, regardless of their shown efficacy and safety.

No drug works the same for everyone. If they did, we wouldn't be sent home with brochures and CDs and told to pick a drug we can live with to treat MS. We wouldn't be switching drugs, and we would all be living the high life with a great QOL!

( sorry, rant over...)