Pharma CEO Shkreli failed to respond to Sanders about his drug hike — and Sanders is not happy

[mhatrw]

Source: Business Insider

US Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) gave Turing Pharmaceuticals three weeks to respond to a letter requesting more information about its controversial recent price hike on the critical drug Daraprim. Sanders and co-author Sen. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) are investigating sudden hikes in the costs of older medicines. In their letter to Turing, the pair requested that the company hand over information about the company and its revenues for the sale of the drugs as well as the identities of individuals in the company responsible for the recent price hike, which raised Daraprim's sticker price from $13.50 to $750 a pill.

...

Sanders and Cummings have been putting pressure on drug companies for a while, reaching out to them to explain drug price hikes and considering legislation to curb pharmaceutical drug prices in general.

The deadline for responding to their letter — Friday, October 9 — has come and gone, and Sanders and Cummings have yet to get a response from Turing. And as of last week, the price of the drug had not been reduced. Sanders is not happy.

“On behalf of the American people, we are sickened by these actions," Sanders said in a news release Friday. "Mr. Shkreli is holding hostage the patients who rely on this lifesaving medication, as well as the hospitals that administer it, by charging unconscionable prices for a drug on which he has a monopoly — just because he can."

...

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/martin-shkreli-never-responded-to-bernie-sanders-about-turing-2015-10

---

Rather than formally respond, ‘Pharma Bro’ Martin Shkreli challenges Bernie Sanders to debate on healthcare

[Cassiopeia]

1. I would love to see that debate.

I don't think this guy has any clue what he would be getting into.

[7962]

15. He doesnt care. He makes Trump look like a wallflower.

[mpcamb]

2. Kick his ass, Bernie!

All the way to Hilary's doorstep.
Make her take a position before there's a poll telling where 50% stands.
Do what right and just and watch the rest of them squirm!

[Control-Z]

6. She already has taken a position.

Almost 3 weeks ago. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/09/22/hillary-clinton-prescription-drug-plan/72598898/

[mpcamb]

7. General vs. Specific

We're all against bad stuff.
Bernie got specific.

Still, point granted.
MP

[Control-Z]

9. You do know that she is not

a government employee, right? She doesn't get to write letters on senate or house stationary. She can't write bills. She's just an American citizen running for office at this point in time.

[mpcamb]

18. OK, it's nearly bedtime and I don't want to get into it, but...

"Bernie Sanders, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, said on Friday he will vote against Dr. Robert Califf as the next commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, citing the nominee’s close ties to the pharmaceutical industry."10/9/15

"Bernie Sanders is calling on a drug company to justify a dramatic spike in the price of a 62-year-old drug that was reported Sunday."9/25/15

"Bernie Sanders, the independent U.S. senator from Vermont campaigning for the 2016 Democratic nomination for president, is expected to soon introduce a bill to curb skyrocketing drug prices in the country, where prescription medications cost more than in any other nation...
Sanders’ bill would grant authority to the Department of Health and Human Services, the operator of Medicare, to negotiate with drug companies over prices. The department is currently forbidden by law from doing so. It would also ease the importation of cheaper drugs from other countries and demand greater transparency by pharmaceutical companies concerning how drugs are priced." 9/2/15

Match me, Control-Z, if Hilary is out there advocating in something other than generalities.

Betond that:
She a rich person with no personal harm from how much things cost.
She been out flanked on critical issues again and again.
Obamacare flaws are an easy target.


And finally "CONTROL-Z", an impertenant question: Are you a part of her campaign?
Are you a paid participant in her campaign?
What specifically is your occupation currently?
...it just that the name makes me wonder.
There are clearly people on this website who are agents. I've no ax to grind. Just guy who's hoping for a better future.
OK.

[Control-Z]

20. How dare you accuse me of being a paid troll.

Asking questions about me doesn't fool anyone about what you're saying.

I've been here for 9 plus years and have always been a member in good standing.

[mpcamb]

21. My apologies.

Last edited Mon Oct 12, 2015, 09:58 PM - Edit history (1)

But at the risk of being contentious,
are you enrolled in her campaign in any way?
It was a question and I NEVER SAID YOU WERE A TROLL.

Also, I don't know what you are implying here:
"Asking questions about me doesn't fool anyone about what you're saying."
I don't know what you think I'm saying. I ASKED if you're affiliated with her campaign.

So, finally, back to the issue-

My feeling is she's only reactive. America doesn't need a rich, blue dog advocate.

[MADem]

26. Wow, you have a lot of nerve.

Back to the issue? After making a sleazy accusation like that, to someone who is way better well known here than YOU?

Who are you? And why are YOU here? Let's check YOU out...!

You didn't have to say it.

Someone doesn't have to be a weatherman to know what way the wind blows.

smh. You should just apologize.

[mpcamb]

27. "You should just apologize."

Read the post above yours, 'cuz I think I did... altho I didn't say TROLL.
I asked directly if there was a direct connection to the HRC campaign.
Strikes me as legitimate. Ask me if I'm in Bernie's and I'll tell you.

And to answer your other question, I'm a retired guy with opinions who's hoping for a better future than rich one percenters are likely to provide.

[MADem]

28. You don't have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

I took your comments the same way the person you offended did. And "My apologies" sounds about as sincere as "Have a nice day."

Would you like it if I doubled down and kept pressing you on your bona fides, like you did?

And finally "CONTROL-Z", an impertenant question: Are you a part of her campaign?
Are you a paid participant in her campaign?
What specifically is your occupation currently?
...it just that the name makes me wonder.
There are clearly people on this website who are agents. I've no ax to grind. Just guy who's hoping for a better future.
OK.

That is some ugly shit (aside from the spelling) and I'm not the only one who noticed.

And the weird "you have a funny name" accusation? Pathetic in the extreme. Are you the only one in the world who doesn't know what means?

Read/learn: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control-Z

Thank God for Control-Z. I'd never win a solitaire game otherwise.

smh.

[Bubzer]

34. mpcamb doesn't owe anyone an apology.

I find it ugly how far you and Control-Z are reaching to be offended.

I also find it odd how the two of you both are fudging in additional details that aren't there. Its like you've launched your own personal smear campaign.

Control-Z Could have simply dismissed mpcamb completely, could have blocked him, could have said "Of course not ", but chose instead to claim he called her a troll? Sorry, that doesn't pass the sniff test.

[MADem]

36. I find it odd how you are frantically reaching into a discussion that doesn't involve you.

You've got moxie, giving people advice--and how AMAZING-- what a great grasp you have of all the admin tools available to a user. Gee, took me years to get all that down.

Why don't you take some of your own advice and do a little blocking and ignoring, hmmmm?

Why should CZ have to tolerate those accusations? The civility level here is in the toilet, already--now long term members have to put up with accusations from low-post strangers who only turn up during primary season? Please.

How would you like to be accused of being a paid disruptor or operative? There's no difference between that and trolling--since you're cutely trying to make a distinction, here. You certainly haven't been here very long, gee, one could regard that as "suspicious" -- much more suspicious that a user name that has been around here for years.

And speaking of names, what does Bubzer mean?

What do you do for a living?

Are you a paid disruptor? Who do you work for?

See--these are all (cough) INNOCENT (cough) questions, much like the ones CZ was asked, that well, we're just ASKING, here....

So no need to be OFFENDED, now.

It's not the "job" of a long term DUer to defend himself against strangers who show up making accusations.


Something sure does smell a bit odd here--but it's not DUers who have been here for years, at least the ones who have consistently posted under the same name, anyway.

smh.

[Nihil]

39. "I find it odd how you are frantically reaching into a discussion that doesn't involve you."

That's exactly what *you* did in .26!




Oh, I see ... it's just another "Hillary Supporter Exception to the Rules"?

[MADem]

40. And what you're doing now.

I was speaking up for a friend. Someone I KNEW.

I don't know YOU from Adam. Nor do I know the other "contributor" to the conversation.

See the diff?

[Nihil]

41. I wasn't the one who spouted the hypocritical quote in the first place.

The only "diff" is that "It's OK if MADem does it!"

[MADem]

44. What 'hypocritical quote?'

You're just snarking for practice, I suspect.

[Bubzer]

45. I don't accept your framing. There was nothing "frantic" about my reply.

I hope you see the irony here... you saying someone else has got moxie for giving advice, and then you go and do exactly the same thing.

You seem to not have a full grasp of the difference between an accusation and a question. I'll refer you to post 23 for the difference.

The name Bubzer is, admittedly, a little strange... so I wouldn't blame anyone for raising an eyebrow at it... but it's just a pseudonym. It has no special meaning.
I work in the Government Sector.
I am not a paid disruptor .

See how easy that was?

[MADem]

46. Isn't that special!

You don't have to "accept" anything you don't want to. But that IS my framing and I stand by my remarks.

I hope YOU see the irony here--but I rather doubt you will. You're too wrapped up in playing a gotcha game. And you're walking around a neighborhood that is new to you, but familiar to many of us, making accusations and insinuations--and that goes over like a lead balloon.

Anyone can say they are anything on the net. But if you've been communicating with them for years, you get a better sense of the individual than "I work in the government sector" (meaningless, that--do you work for a cabinet agency, or a town public works department? Don't answer--I don't care). And "I am not a paid disruptor" could mean you work for free. But who's to know?

If you're here in two years, when there are no primaries, no contentious discussions, then we'll start to know you. Right now, youre just some anonymouos poster, stirring the pot.

[Bubzer]

49. Well, thank you for giving me permision to have an opinion.

Oops, spoke a little too soon. I'm back to being de-humanized.
Not winning any friends here, but I suspect your okay with that.

[Bubzer]

23. You may be a member in good standing, but that doesn't say "no" to any of the questions he asked.

Also, you're protesting awfully hard for someone who was not accused of anything, but asked a few fairly straightforward questions.

Not to put to fine a point on it... but here's the difference:

Questioning: Are you a paid agent?

Accusing: You're obviously a paid agent.

There are plenty of political activists, paid and otherwise, who create and maintain long-standing accounts with various sites... so length of residence means little in this regard.

On the other hand, dodging the questions does make you look guilty of something.
If you're not paid to work the political scene, it's a very simple thing to say so.

[ms liberty]

22. Not cool. Please edit and remove your accusation...

You embarrass yourself and insult a long time member in good standing.

[Bubzer]

24. It's not an accusation...it's a straightforward question.

Certainly not an insult. That someone took offense to it doesn't make the question any less legitimate.

[MADem]

29. Here's a straightforward question--who the hell are YOU?

You've been here since June and you're already telling people who are known (like you are not), who have been here for years (like you have not) how they ought to behave?

Reads like an insult to me.

[Bubzer]

31. Now that's an example of an insult. You at least understand how to give them if not identify them.

To answer your question, I've been reading DU articles off and on for a long time. I think the official term is lurking. Probably since about 2005 or so. I've been around long enough to see quite a lot of transition of people coming and going. I recently thought I would actively engage with the community since time became available.

I don't de-value people such as you just did to me.

I like constructive conversation, and generally revile those who like personal attacks... subtle or otherwise.
I also bitterly dislike it when people twist or frame, or in this case, mischaracterize what was actually said for an individual interpretation... especially if a clarification has been given. In short, I like reason, and I like reasonable people. I don't waste time with those who refuse to be reasonable.

Lastly, this isn't the only online blog/news site I'm part of, so this a little bit of old-hat for me.

So now, thanks to your slight, you know a little more about me.
And now you'll understand a little better when I point directly to you and say your wrong.
I didn't tell anyone how to behave. What did was rightly point out that mpcamb had a valid question. It certainly was not the insult that you insist.

Control-Z even added the idea that mpcamb used the word "troll" which never happened. So, both you and Control-Z are making false accusations, and what I want to know, is, why.

[MADem]

37. Asking who you are--after you offend a long term DUer with your snarky lecture--is "offending"

you?

Wow--someone sure has a sense of entitlement.

Speaking of twisting and framing, you need to take your own advice, because that is EXACTLY what you were doing upthread.

I suggest you take some of your own pontificating advice, and do some of that blocking and ignoring you're telling other people to do, if you don't like what you're reading here.

[Bubzer]

42. Wrong again. I'm speaking to your belittlement of me for not being in your clique.

That's where the offense was. I don't care if you ask about me...that's not insulting at all. In fact, I'll answer your other post here in just a moment.

[MADem]

43. I don't have a "clique." How odd that you would use that word--you're in one, then?

I have friends and acquaintances that I've gotten to know over the past decade and then some.

I don't like seeing people picking on them.

[Bubzer]

47. Wanting to defend friends is a noble trait, and I applaud you for it...

But you've given the approximate definition of a clique.

"clique - a group of people who interact with each other more regularly and intensely than others in the same setting."
courtesy of google search: https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=clique

[MADem]

48. I don't interact "intensely" with Control Z.

But Control Z is a known quantity in this neighborhood, has been for YEARS, and you? You are not.

[Bubzer]

50. And yet, a legitimate question still goes unanswered.

[MADem]

51. If you substitute "pointless and rude" for "legitimate" you might have a point. nt

[Bubzer]

52. Ahh, but I didn't make that subtitution...and it's no less legitimate just because you dont like it.

[MADem]

53. Well, I did. And I find that characterization preferable and valid. nt

[Bubzer]

55. Of course you do. And I disagree. So the best we can hope for is to agree to disagree.

[mhatrw]

32. LOL. Are you getting paid to get angry when someone asks questions about

long time members in good standing?

I admit that the question might not be totally polite, but how it is an insult to ask someone if he or she is working for HRC's campaign?

Personally, I don't think that is something to be ashamed of. I mean, it's not like calling someone a Repuke troll.

[MADem]

38. Would it not bug you if someone asked those rude questions of you?

That wasn't a friendly question--that was accusatory. And if someone did go after you like that, I'd defend you too. I know who you are and if anyone tried to make points by snidely asking you if you got paid to post here, I'd give 'em a bit of pushback, too.

People who are actually working on a campaign don't have time for this sad corner of the internet. This place is not the influencer it once was. It's a collection of old timers who are mostly boomers, a few younger insurgents (who think they're "helping&quot , and a shitload of chain jerkers.

Maybe I should just stop caring when people in our crew get attacked like that.

The ratio of bullshit to good coversation is not heading in a good direction, here. That kind of thing would not have even been put out there back in the day, but nowadays, it's like Lord of the Flies.

[LanternWaste]

56. I'd cower behind obvious implication too...

I'd cower behind obvious implication too... fat too inefficient to allow the courage of our own convictions act as the fundamental indicator of our character, regardless of how we may rationalize it otherwise.

[Bubzer]

57. It was hard to avoiding quoting Hamlet - "The lady doth protest too much, methinks".

[riversedge]

60. Good point.

[jalan48]

3. He may be waiting for the trade agreement to kick in so he can tell them to go fuck themselves.

It seems to be the attitude.

[turbinetree]

4. And this is why........................

COLA should be on drugs for the elderly and everyone else in this country.

I really like a person that wants to hold greed accountable


Honk-------------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

[TexasTowelie]

5. Keep in mind that the letter was a request for information rather than a subpoena.

Shkreli is despicable and arrogant, but his refusal to reply is also his legal right and does not rise to the level of contempt of Congress.

[drray23]

8. he may well be in his legal right

However, pissing off one of the most powerful senators in the country is never a good idea. This guy's company is going to go down in flames with all the big publicity he is bringing to it. Either that or the board will kick him out.

[7962]

14. He was JUST tossed from the CEO position of Retrophin LAST YEAR.

And they have sued him for 65 million because of shady stock trading, which is his hallmark.

He started retrophin, just as he started Turin for the exact same purpose.

[TexasTowelie]

16. Doubtful.

He is founder of the company and executive chairman at Turing.

I can't find any information whether the company is traded publicly. If they are then the fiduciary duty of board members is to make money for stockholders. That will likely be the case for a company that sells life-saving medication, at least in the short term until another company pays for the rights to make the drug themselves.

Finally, the publicity (even if bad publicity) can also be a good thing for the company. If the shares are traded publicly then some traders may decide that the reward outweighs the risk in the investment.

[mhatrw]

33. Wow! It almost sounds as if you are defending this psychopath.

I'm wondering how anyone with a shred of a conscience could take up for this little shit in any capacity?

What has he ever done to endear himself to you? Are you somehow invested in defending him?

[TexasTowelie]

35. I have no love for him

nor do I have invested in him either and he has done nothing to endear himself to me. As I stated earlier, he is despicable and I don't agree with what he has done.

However, I am also pragmatic and those that do have something invested in him and his company are more concerned in the financial rewards rather than the moral considerations. He is obviously obsessed with greed which I find repulsive, but I'm not going to ignore the factors that motivate the guy. It would be a mistake for anyone that knows him to do so. He is the defendant in many lawsuits and his wealth may vanish quite easily.

On a different level if there is a judgment made in the afterlife then I would like to think that he will rot in hell.

I hope that clarifies things.

[mhatrw]

59. Sure his "investors" also want to make windfall profits on the backs of sick people.

They are all psychocapitalists. They are all no better than the folks who "invested" in the slave trade or Auschwitz.

[Plucketeer]

10. Mightr be fun to know

who Turing Pharm. has contributed to of late.

[7962]

12. Knowing Shkreli, not a single soul. It all goes in his pocket nt

[TexasTowelie]

17. The company started up in February of this year

so they don't have much of a track record.

[7962]

11. This is a typical response from Shkreli. I'm surprised he didnt curse Sanders in a tweet.

I will state once again that I would not lose a second of sleep if someone yanked this bastard off the street and beat the living shit out of him. And told him WHY they were doing it.
Then we'd see how much of a "bad boy" he really is, like he claims.

[DhhD]

13. Anti-Trust and Monopolies

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/chapter-1

U.S. Code › Title 15 › Chapter 1
15 U.S. Code Chapter 1 - MONOPOLIES AND COMBINATIONS IN RESTRAINT OF TRADE

Current through Pub. L. 114-38.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2
Monopolizing Trade a felony; penalty from Public Law 114-38

Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not exceeding $100,000,000 if a corporation, or, if any other person, $1,000,000, or by imprisonment not exceeding 10 years, or by both said punishments, in the discretion of the court.

(July 2, 1890, ch. 647, § 2, 26 Stat. 209; July 7, 1955, ch. 281, 69 Stat. 282; Pub. L. 93–528, § 3, Dec. 21, 1974, 88 Stat. 1708; Pub. L. 101–588, § 4(b), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2880; Pub. L. 108–237, title II, § 215(b), June 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 668.)

[leftyladyfrommo]

19. Good for him.. NT

[SansACause]

25. This is just capitalism. What is Bernie?

Some sort of socialist?

[passiveporcupine]

30. I would love to see Bernie wipe that stupid smerk off his face

The problem with drug companies is they've gotten away with too much for too long and they think that we are OK with it, or will never stand up to them. When we did not fight for prescription price control on Medicare Part D, we screwed the pooch, or jumped the shark, or whatever you want to call lit.

Now we need a single payer system that has the power to negotiate drug prices...and we need some kind of transparency on how drug prices are set. Especially since so much of our own money goes to pharmacies for research and development.

[allan01]

54. sickem bernie

or more like he deliberatey didnt respond . hope that the person gets summoned .

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

58. Shdreli doesn't give a damn

He's a sociopath, happy with the controversy, probably considering a price hike for that drug. Because he can.