Well, the elections are over and the industry's best boy -- G. W. Bush -- and Republican congressional cronies are in place and eager to spend the "political capital" gained. Without skipping a beat, it seems that the pharmaceutical industry is recouping all the money it donated to politicians and then some. Today's WSJ reports that "Of the 50 biggest-selling medicines in the drug industry, 31 had price increases since the November elections through Jan. 19" (see "Prices Increase on Popular Drugs", WSJ, 01/25/2005).

For example, prices for VIOXX alternatives -- such as Mobic -- have risen between 7% and 11% just this month alone! Obviously, Boehringer Ingelheim Corp. and Abbott Laboratories, co-marketers of Mobic, are taking advantage of the increased demand. No sympathy for any of the 40 million or so consumers without health insurance who must pay for these drugs out of their own pockets! Speaking of pain!

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