United StatesSenator Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) is questioning Merck over its patent strategy for the cancer drug Keytruda, alleging that the company files excessive patents to maintain monopolies and prevent lower-cost competitors from entering the market. In a letter to Merck CEO Robert Davis, Hassan highlighted how these practices have delayed generic alternatives and kept prices extremely high, with the U.S. list price exceeding $208,000 per year of treatment. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) reported that Merck’s new injectable version of Keytruda could generate billions and extend market exclusivity until 2042, potentially blocking cheaper alternatives for decades. While Merck claims that multiple patents do not necessarily delay generics, ICIJ’s findings suggest that secondary patents may prolong the drug’s exclusivity, limiting patient access.
Bias read (Left): The article frames Merck’s patent strategy as an anti-competitive practice that prioritizes corporate profits over patient access, using terms like 'anti-competitive,' 'monopolies,' and 'delaying competition.' It emphasizes the negative impact on patients and cites ICIJ’s findings to support the批评,
