The FDA has proposed that companies make experimental drugs more readily available to certain patients -- specifically those with very serious or life-threatening conditions that have no known treatments. This sounds like major news, but in reality many drugs have been available since the 1970's to certain patients before they were officially approved by the FDA -- particularly drugs for HIV, AIDS, cancer, and heart conditions. But this new proposal outlines specifically when and how much drug companies can charge patients, and therefore will make it much simpler for companies to make their drugs available without so much confusion and red tape.

Even though the FDA spells out exactly how the companies should calculate their fees, and that those "fees" should only be what it takes to cover development and administrative costs to make the drug available, it seems like terminal desperate patients are an easy group to take advantage of. If some experimental drug is the last hope for someone, that drug company could charge practically whatever it wants and the patient will pay it. I just hope the FDA backs up its proposal, if approved, and enforces the guidelines.