Pfizer’s Paxlovid Covid Pill Granted Full FDA Approval
ForbesAPR 2 2023
Pfizer More Than Doubles Price of Paxlovid
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The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Paxlovid is a valuable medication, and Pfizer deserves to be compensated fairly. The updated list price reflects the drug's important role in helping to reduce COVID hospitalizations and deaths. COVID is still around but thankfully much has changed over the past few years — a transition to a regular healthcare marketplace for this drug is in the best interest of the consumer.
Establishment-critical narrative
Doubling the cost of Paxlovid is blatantly Big Pharma price gouging. The drug was a breakthrough in the fight against COVID and likely saved many lives, and raising the cost will put a hurdle in the way of many people who will need access to it. Given issues with insured and underinsured populations, this is bad news for many with COVID still circulating in the American population.