31 August 2016 - Free trade in generics could curb near-monopolies wielded by the likes of the maker of EpiPen.

Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Greg Ip states that in a health care system that is notoriously resistant to cost-containment, generic medicines are an exception. He claims Americans enjoy a huge range of generic medicines at-ever declining prices, largely thanks to robust competition among multiple manufacturers.

So how is it that the price of EpiPen, which treats severe allergic reactions, has jumped sixfold in eight years? Or the price of Daraprim, a half-century old, unpatented treatment for parasitic infections, was raised 50-fold after being acquired by Turing Pharmaceuticals AG last year?

Read Wall Street Journal article