The drug co’s were perfectly happy with this; as long as they could simply pass through the billion dollar cost (yes, it’s a billion bucks now to get a drug approved) to insurers and patients, who gave a rat’s ass how much the bureaucracy cost? After all, a lot of money was greasing everyone’s palms.

As with all cartel arrangements, however, dissatisfaction is growing. The FDA is approving fewer drugs than ever now, and companies are learning that the demon with whom they consummated their unholy marriage is not a gentle lover. There is not nearly enough “new” to keep the lights on in their NJ corporate offices. The industry is shedding jobs like crazy (including mine), apparently still in the denial stage of a death spiral. By the time Obama finishes a process started years ago, patients will have a cornucopia of generic drugs on which to addle themselves on the government’s dime. It will be nirvana for hypochondriacs.

Our greatest fear should be that generic anti-psychotics like Riperdol will be mandated for wrong thinking people like us.