In a report to investors on Tuesday, Mr. Moskowitz noted that a NitroMed statement last Friday announcing the $1.80-a-pill price was released in concert with a statement endorsing the company's prescription assistance program from a Washington-based organization called the National Minority Health Month Foundation Minority Coalition for Prescription Drug Assistance.

Seems asinine to develop a pill for which fully 10% of the target consumers cannot afford. And then, in recognition of this fact, to make a complicated pricing system by which some people have to pay the full price and others nothing at all. I'd be interested to see the specifics of what determines who pays. I agree with the graduated pricing structure for drugs, but in the end it only serves to reinforce the overarching top-level problem that drugs are too expensive to begin with.

On another note...the NMHMFMCPDA?! That's just too damn many letters!

-janelane, conscientiously

RE: Maker of Heart Drug Intended for Blacks Bases Price on Patients' Wealth