Some Australian students have recreated a life-saving medicine after its price was hiked by a pharmaceutical company.
The price of the drug swelled from $13.50 to $750 last year. On the other hand, the students were able to reproduce the drug’s active ingredient for a mere $20. The students synthesised 3.7 grams of pyrimethamine. According to the BBC, the yield is worth about $110,000 in the United States.
Daraprim is an anti-parasitic medication that treats malaria and other conditions relating to compromised immune systems, such as AIDS. It features on the World Health Organisation’s list of “essential medicines.”
The boys, all aged 17, worked under the Open Source Malaria consortium, which lets scientists anywhere in the world present their data and offer feedback.
But instead of encouraging the students for their remarkable work, Martin Shkreli belittled their accomplishment on Twitter.
These kids who ‘made Daraprim’ reminds me of Ahmed who ‘made the clock’. Dumb journalists want a feel good story.
— Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) December 1, 2016
And never, ever compare your cook game to mine. Highest yield, best purity, most scale. I have the synthesis game on lock.
— Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) December 1, 2016
