Link: https://www.icij.org/investigations/cancer-calculus/big-fines-and-settlements-barely-dent-cancer-drugmakers-revenues-fail-to-deter-wrongdoing/

For many decades, companies making cancer drugs have exploited ethically dubious practices that have generated great fortunes for shareholders but sometimes priced out patients who desperately need the medicines. Now a review of enforcement actions around the world by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists highlights yet another manifestation of a broken global healthcare system: Some cancer drugmakers face allegations of wrongdoing — again and again — and are not deterred when they have to pay fines or large settlement payments.

Further adding to the industry’s generally wretched reputation, cancer drugmakers have sometimes crossed the line with such documented practices as exploiting the patent system to stifle competition, promoting higher dosages than necessary, taking advantage of industry regulatory shortcuts, and breaching criminal or civil statutes. That’s yet another fallout that can affect patients and raise the expenses of taxpayers and healthcare systems.