NitroMed has come under attack for its decision to sell BiDil -- a heart drug for blacks -- at $1.80 per pill, twice the amount of several other drugs. The biotech has coupled that price, though, with a plan to provide the drug at a deep discount to patients without drug coverage while poor people without drug coverage can obtain it for free. Dr. Steven Nissen at the Cleveland Clinic told The New York Times that the decision could price the drug beyond the reach of many patients. NitroMed says that they feel it's important to make sure that BiDil is available to everyone who needs it.
- read this story from The New York Times for more