Puzzled by drug prices

It used to be that the pharma companies had a lot more R&D risk, but I remember reading 10 (?) years ago that the business model had shifted, and that now they outsource much of that risk to smaller biotech startups and then buy the intellectual property once it's become more of a sure thing.

The annoying thing is that much of the riskiest initial research is taxpayer-funded (via universities and other public research institutions), but then taxpayers usually end up paying at the other end of the pipeline once the drug is approved.

It is frustrating not to fall into either bucket to get help paying for Orgovyx. I went on Medicare last fall after being on my company's health plan for 42 years (32 years of employment + 10 years of retirement), so I can't get the reduced copay. And our yearly income, puts us out of the patience assistance program. I'm not clear on what the Medicare catastrophic limit is for 2025, but I hope it comes down.

Here it is:
Millions of People with Medicare Will Benefit from the New Out-of-Pocket Drug Spending Cap Over Time. In 2025, Medicare beneficiaries will pay no more than $2,000 out of pocket for prescription drugs covered under Part D, Medicare's outpatient drug benefit.