Bunuel wrote:
A new drug that is very effective in treating malaria is, in effect, unavailable to the people who need it the most — the poor residents of developing nations — due to the extremely high cost per dose. The drug itself is cheap to produce and its high price has ensured that the cost of researching and developing it has been recouped many times over. Clearly the company that makes this drug is more concerned with profits than saving lives.
Which of the following defenses would most effectively refute the charges of excessive pricing given above?
A. The incidence of malaria has declined, making the sales of this drug much lower than was originally anticipated.
B. Although malaria is debilitating, most of the people who contract it in the developing world do not succumb to the disease.
C. Although the drug is expensive, very few doses are needed to cure a patient suffering from malaria.
D. Successful drugs need to cover the cost of their own development and the cost of research into other substances that do not prove successful.
E. Drug companies often distribute some of their drugs free or or at reduced cost in emergency situations in impoverished countries.
Explanation-
Fact1- A new drug of malaria is not available to the poor residents due to the extremely high cost per dose.
Fact2- The drug is cheap to produce and has recouped the cost of research and development
Conclusion- the company that makes this drug is more concerned with profits
Question stem- which of the following defenses would most effectively refute the charges of excessive pricing given above
So, we need to select an option that gives a valid explanation for the high prices of the drug
A. The incidence of malaria has declined, making the sales of this drug much lower than was originally anticipated.- okay, considering this, we can say that the companies are inclined towards sales and hence profits. This option doesn't give a valid explanation for the high price of the drug.
B. Although malaria is debilitating, most of the people who contract it in the developing world do not succumb to the disease.- Although people don't die without the drug, we cannot consider this option to be a valid explanation for the high price of the drug.
C. Although the drug is expensive, very few doses are needed to cure a patient suffering from malaria.- Few doses are required does not justify the high price.
D. Successful drugs need to cover the cost of their own development and the cost of research into other substances that do not prove successful.-
This could be a valid explanation as it tells us that there are more costs that need to be recouped from the sales of drugs.E. Drug companies often distribute some of their drugs free or at reduced cost in emergency situations in impoverished countries.- This option does not justify the high price