This would be easier to swallow if pharma companies weren't some of the most highly and consistently profitable companies on the planet. Or if they spent magnitudes more on research than they do on marketing, PR, and lobbying.

Medical research is heavily government funded. I would be surprised, if the majority of the investment actually comes from pharma companies. Any R&D pharma companies invest in is also going to be heavily focused on areas that have a high likelyhood of paying off reasonably soon, much like R&D in any other company.

>Why even do it or invest in it if the chance of success is so low?

Because the payoff is high?

They own more of your government than any other industry, which is incidentally how they managed to create their hyper-inflated prices in the first place.

Their chance of success doesn't depend on R&D.

God, some Americans are really cringe-worthy. Is it really necessary to get defensive just because other governments are more interested in representing the interests of their people?