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Risdiplam raises questions about pharma's ethics
Apr 1, 2025
This discussion dives into the ethical minefield surrounding Risdiplam, focusing on its pricing and accessibility for spinal muscular atrophy patients in India. A heated conflict between Roche and Natco Pharma over generic production raises critical questions about the pharmaceutical industry's morals. It also explores India's patent laws and the pressing need for affordable healthcare solutions, highlighting a broader dilemma of ethics versus profit in drug pricing.
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Quick takeaways
- Risdiplam's exorbitant pricing raises ethical concerns in the pharmaceutical industry, highlighting the conflict between profit motives and patient access to essential treatments.
- The legal battle over Risdiplam's patent underscores the tension between pharmaceutical innovation incentives and the need for affordable alternatives for critical medications.
Deep dives
Impact of High Drug Prices on Patients with SMA
The emergence of RISD-PLAM as a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has highlighted severe challenges faced by patients due to exorbitant drug prices. While this breakthrough medicine enables patients to produce the critical SMN protein, its retail cost ranges from 20 lakh to 70 lakh rupees annually, rendering it unattainable for many in need. This situation escalates further as SMA leads to significant health complications and is a leading genetic cause of infant death in India, with many patients unable to access the treatment they desperately need. The core issue revolves around the ethical implications of how pharmaceutical companies price life-saving drugs, raising questions about profit motives versus patient welfare.
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