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Summarize Argument
The editorial argues that copycat “me too” drugs can benefit consumers. Why? Because their presence sometimes reduces the prices of the drugs they resemble.
Notable Assumptions
The editorial assumes consumers can benefit from the price reduction caused by “me too” drugs entering the market. This means assuming the lower prices are enjoyed by end consumers and that they aren’t accompanied by some disadvantage that outweighs the benefit of lower prices.
A
Some “me too” drugs turn out to be more effective than the drugs they were designed to imitate.
This is another way “me too” drugs can benefit consumers. It rules out the possibility that all “me too” drugs are less effective than the originals.
B
If “me too” drugs were prohibited, more money would be available for the development of innovative drugs.
This weakens the editorial’s argument because it suggests consumers might benefit in a different way if “me too” drugs were prohibited: from the availability of more innovative drugs.
C
Pharmaceutical companies often make more money on a “me too” drug than on an original drug.
This doesn’t prevent “me too” drugs from benefitting consumers as well. Pharmaceutical companies might make more money on “me too” drugs simply because the lower price allows more people to purchase them.
D
If all pharmaceutical companies developed “me too” drugs, fewer innovative drugs would be developed.
The editorial says “[m]any” pharmaceutical companies, not all of them, produce “me too” drugs. Even if fewer innovative drugs were developed, that would disadvantage consumers, so this would weaken the argument.
E
Some pharmaceutical companies lose money on the development of innovative drugs because of the development by other companies of “me too” drugs.
This disadvantages some pharmaceutical companies, but it doesn’t necessarily benefit consumers. It’s not stated whether losses by the companies that develop innovative drugs translate to savings by consumers.