Homeopathy

considering the economic landscape we live in (i.e. a private company has to make a profit [unless subsidised] to be viable) this seems a moot point. of course profit>people. welcome to capitalism.

I dont think that makes it moot at all.

i believe (as has been said up in the thread) that when a company develops a drug, for a certain time they are the only company allowed to make it (or license others to...) so that they can make back the money they spent developing it. i don't see how it would happen any other way unless govt's paid for drug development.

The US example is about an agreement made on the price of the drugs. I totally understand that they are making an investment, though a large proportion of their budgets is spent on lobbying/marketing.

EDIT: Found it... the MMA (Medicare Modernization Act) prohibiting the US government from negotiating on price of Medicare approved drugs with pharmaceutical companies. Blows my mind.

does this happen in the UK?

Not directly like in TV ads, though the influence of "public awareness campaigns" in this country obviously has an affect. A fair bit of Tamiflu has been sold in the last few years. It can happen in the states though.