Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    When Drug Prices Skyrocket Overnight

    Specialists who treat rare diseases are protesting gigantic increases in the prices of old and familiar drugs. The cost of one medicine jumped 5000 percent -- overnight. The headline in today's New York Times is, "Drug Goes From $13.50 To $750 Overnight."

    • rss
    • Share
    By Warren Olney • Sep 21, 2015 • 8m Listen

    Specialists who treat rare diseases are protesting gigantic increases in the prices of old and familiar drugs. The cost of one medicine jumped 5000 percent -- overnight. The headline in today's New York Times is, "Drug Goes From $13.50 To $750 Overnight." The story explains that it's not because of a sudden shortage, but the business strategy of a former hedge-fund manager -- and he's not alone. Times' reporter Andrew Pollack covers the science and business of biotechnology.

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    Will Pope Francis Be an Agent of Change?
    1. 1:38Why Defection Stories Could Battle ISIS Propaganda
    2. 8:29Will Pope Francis Be an Agent of Change?
    3. 43:54When Drug Prices Skyrocket OvernightYou’re reading this
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Evan George

      Director of Content, News

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Gideon Brower

      Independent Producer

    • KCRW placeholder

      Andrew Pollack

      New York Times

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    Will Pope Francis Be an Agent of Change?
    1. 1:38Why Defection Stories Could Battle ISIS Propaganda
    2. 8:29Will Pope Francis Be an Agent of Change?
    3. 43:54When Drug Prices Skyrocket OvernightYou’re reading this
    Back to To the Point