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In principle (ignoring whether it's a good strategy) could the tribe simply keep all the money? So the choice is, make $15 million per year until 2024, and possibly more from other deals (but other tribes are going to get into this and start a race to the bottom) OR make $1 billion per year until 2024, and no one else will ever make this deal with you.

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The way I read this is that Allergan is making a lump sum payment, and then ongoing annual royalties beyond that. That makes sense to me, as the money is coming from the sales of Restasis at inflated/uncompetitive pricing.

the tribe doesn't have the ability to manufacture, market, and distribute the drug. the best they could do is sell the patent back to a competitor. which is doable, but probably expensive, because allergan would stop at nothing to re-gain that patent (i.e. lawyers).

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