This is an economically misguided point of view. Free market decision-making can only be argued to be optimal in a free market system, which pharma is not, a distinction which the decision-makers certainly were intelligent enough to understand. Free market mechanisms either need to be put in place, or we need to stop allowing its actors to behave as though it were one. As it stands, even from an economics point of view, this sort of behavior is simply immoral.
It gives economics a bad name when you try to argue that such decision-making is economically defensible. It is never economically optimal to make decisions that can directly lead to the deaths of citizens in the host society, in exchange for higher profits. The reading of free market theory with which most people, including its founder, would agree, is one where the goal is to maximize utility, not wealth. This is a vitally important distinction, and one that the layperson often overlooks. Without it, a free market system becomes nothing more than a war of sociopaths. [1]
Sadly, online discussions often degenerate into witch-hunts with the assumption that if we stop this one guy, then everything will be fine.
It's not sad at all. People are understandably outraged, as it is a natural human reaction to such callous life-and-death decision-making. If you truly believe in your statement, I'd reflect on why you are unable to relate to the majority of people around the internet who are very angry about this.
[1] http://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/09/adam-smith...