Apple News In Conversation Why a 25-cent pill is being sold to cancer patients for nearly $1,000
May 29, 2025
David Armstrong, a ProPublica health-care reporter battling a rare blood cancer, dives into the shocking pricing of the cancer drug Revlimid. He reveals how this lifesaving medication, costing mere cents to produce, is sold to patients for nearly $1,000 per pill. Armstrong discusses the monopolistic tactics of pharmaceutical companies that keep prices high and access low. He also explores the troubling history of related drugs and the broader implications of America's drug pricing crisis, urging a need for reform in the healthcare system.
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David's Cancer Diagnosis Journey
- David Armstrong discovered his multiple myeloma after severe abdominal pains led him to the ER.
- He learned the cancer was incurable but treatable with a drug called Revlimid.
Drug Price Impact on Patients & System
- Revlimid pills cost 25 cents to make but sell for nearly $1,000 each.
- High drug prices affect all of us through insurance premiums and systemic costs.
Thalidomide's Transformation to Cancer Drug
- Revlimid is a derivative of thalidomide, a drug known for causing birth defects in the 1950s-60s.
- Despite risks, it now benefits cancer patients by blocking blood vessel growth for tumors.