Monopolies

Monopoly can be a fun game, but it isn't such fun in real life. A drug company acquired approval to be the sole manufacturer for Makena, used for preventing premature birth, and has now jacked the price up from \$10-\$20 to \$1500/dose. The March of Dimes originally supported the move, on the grounds that the quality of the medicine would now become consistent and the source reliable (it was a boutique mixture), but I suspect they're starting to regret that. "Reliable source" but unaffordable--not a good tradeoff.

The parties in question here are KV Pharmaceutical of suburban St.Louis and the federal government, in its role as bestower of largesse on the anointed few. We seem to have neither a free market, a sanely regulated market, or a state-run medical system; but instead a hybrid with a berth for corruption. Says here their CEO pled guilty to misbranding drugs last year (drug was correct, dose was wrong). Hat tip to The Anchoress.