When billionaire Mark Cuban announced his attack on the pharmaceutical industry and its high-priced drugs in January 2021, it was met with cheers.
kAmw:D ?6H 4@>A2?J — E96 |2C< rF32? r@DE !=FD sCF8 r@][ <?@H? 2D r@DE !=FD sCF8D — 92D E96 “=@H6DE AC:46D @? >65D 2?JH96C6[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6?]H:<:A65:2]@C8^H:<:^|2C<0rF32?QmD6C:2= 6?EC6AC6?6FCk^2m 2?5 @H?6C @7 E96 }qp’D s2==2D |2G6C:4<D >256 E96 >65:2 C@F?5D 6G2?86=:K:?8[ 86EE:?8 AC6DD G:2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]HD;]4@>^2CE:4=6D^>2C<\4F32?\5:D4@F?E\A92C>24J\AC6D4C:AE:@?\5CF8\AC:46D\``ef_dc_hhgQm%96 (2== $EC66E y@FC?2=k^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E:>6]4@>^eabcdf_^>2C<\4F32?\:?E6CG:6H\4@DE\A=FD\5CF8D^Qm%:>6k^2m[ “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGlJ*rDeq0_f`HU2>Aj230492??6=l%96s2:=J$9@HQm%96 s2:=J $9@Hk^2m[” 2?5 >2?J @E96C @FE=6ED] w6 82G6 4@=@C7F= BF@E6D 2=@?8 E96 H2J[ 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]364<6CD9@DA:E2=C6G:6H]4@>^DEC2E68J^>2C<\4F32?\:D\C625J\E@\D2J\?@]9E>=Qm@?6 A@:?E 564=2C:?8k^2m 9:D 8@2= :D E@ “yFDE 7— FA E96 A92C>246FE:42= :?5FDECJ D@ 325 E92E E96J 3=665]”k^Am
People are also reading…
- Highway patrol: Juvenile killed in McDowell County wreck while driving electric bike
- One person critically injured in Sunday crash involving bicycle in McDowell County
- Marion woman charged with starting wildfire in northern McDowell County
- McDowell County women's powerlifter inducted into North Carolina hall of fame
- ‘No kings’ rally in downtown Marion draws more than 275 people, organizers say
- 12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle
- Investigation continues into fatal wreck that killed juvenile on Sunday
- Marion, McDowell leaders seek public’s input on future of Drexel Heritage site
- Fire in Buck Creek section of McDowell still 175 acres Monday morning, 0% contained
- NC high school senior accepted to 90+ colleges, received $5.3 million in scholarship offers
- Tanker truck crashed on I-40 at McDowell, Burke line; milk spills into creek
- See events that will close Marion downtown streets this year, including Friday night concerts
- McDowell County NC East Marion, Clinchfield, Stumptown homecoming to celebrate community
- Marion man charged with death by distribution in 22-year-old's 2025 overdose death
- Multiple departments responding to wildfire in Buck Creek section of McDowell County
kAmw:D ?6H 4@>A2?J[ H9:49 4FCC6?E=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^EH:EE6C]4@>^4@DEA=FD5CF8D^DE2EFD^`e`e``a_ac`bhhgghhbQm@776CD @G6C 2 E9@FD2?5 86?6C:4 >65:42E:@?Dk^2m[ 92D D@4:2= >65:2 :?7=F6?46CD D:?8:?8 9:D AC2:D6Di #62=:EJ DE2C z:> z2C52D9:2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^EH:EE6C]4@>^<:><2C52D9:2?^DE2EFD^`dbh_dgagaadfccghe_n=2?8l6?Qm3@E9 EH66E65k^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C655:E]4@>^82==6CJ^G9`e`gQmx?DE28C2>>65k^2m <F5@D] u@C>6C 32D<6E32==6C 2?5 %H:EE6C A6CD@?2=:EJ #6I r92A>2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^EH:EE6C]4@>^#6Ir92A>2?^DE2EFD^`e_dbe`efhghfgea`cdQmD2:5 rF32? H2Dk^2m “492?8:?8 E96 82>6 @7 AC6D4C:AE:@? 5CF8 AC:46D :? p>6C:42]”k^Am
kAmtG6? 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C655:E]4@>^C^$H:?86CD^4@>>6?ED^G@c:4=^>2C<04F32?D04@DE0A=FD05CF8D092D0>F490>F4904962A6C^QmDH:?86C’D 7@CF> @? #655:Ek^2m 7:?5D >F49 E@ =:<6 23@FE E96 4@>A2?J’D =@H AC:46D 7@C ':28C2 2?5 @E96C >65D]k^Am
kAm*6E 36?62E9 E96 9JA6 =:6D 2 >FC<J C62=:EJi x? >2?J 42D6D[ E96 AC:46 BF@E6D E92E A2E:6?ED D66 @? E96 H63D:E6 2C6 9:896C E92? E96J’5 86E 2E E96:C =@42= A92C>24J] xE 92D E@ 5@ H:E9 E96 D68>6?E rF32? :D A=2J:?8 :? — 86?6C:4 5CF8D — 3FE 2=D@ E96 =2J6CD @7 4@>A=6I:EJ A64F=:2C E@ E96 p>6C:42? 962=E9 DJDE6>]k^Am
kAm#:89E ?@H[ 9:D 4@>A2?J AC:>2C:=J D6==D 86?6C:4D[ 5CF8D E92E 2C6 ?@ =@?86C AC@E64E65 3J A2E6?ED E92E 4@F=5 6?DFC6 >@?@A@=J AC@7:ED 7@C 3:8 A92C>246FE:42= 4@>A2?:6D] x? >@DE 42D6D[ :E :D E96 =@H6DE\AC:465 A2CE @7 E96 A92C>2 64@?@>J]k^Am
kAm%@ 6I2>:?6 2 DF3DE2?E:2= D=:46 @7 rF32?’D H2C6D[ zw} =@@<65 2E 2== E96 >65:42E:@?D 2?5 AC@5F4ED @776C65 @? 9:D D:E6 E92E DE2CE H:E9 E96 =6EE6C “p[” H:E9 6249 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 DEC6?8E9[ 4@F?E[ @C BF2?E:EJ[ 2?5 EJA6 @7 >65:42E:@? W6]8][ 42ADF=6[ E23=6E[ @C 496H23=6 8F>>:6DX 2G2:=23=6] xE’D 2 D:K23=6 D2>A=6i pD @7 62C=J u63CF2CJ[ :E 2>@F?E65 E@ a`` 4@>3:?2E:@?D]k^Am
kAmzw} 4@>A2C65 E96 AC:46D 7@C 6249 G2C:6EJ @7 >65:42E:@? E@ E96 AC:46D 7C@> @E96C A92C>24:6D 7@C E92E D2>6 >65:42E:@?[ 2D 4@>A:=65 3J 4@>A2C:D@?\D9@AA:?8 5:D4@F?E D:E6 v@@5#I] u@4FD:?8 @? E96 (2D9:?8E@?[ s]r][ 2C62[ H96C6 zw} :D 32D65[ E96 AF3=:42E:@? 7@F?5 =@H6C AC:46D :? 2E =62DE @?6 A92C>24J @? v@@5#I — H9:49 5@6D?’E :?4=F56 rF32?’D 4@>A2?J :? :ED 4@>A2C:D@?D — :? `c` :?DE2?46D]k^Am
kAmx? E96 C6>2:?:?8 f_ :?DE2?46D[ rF32?’D @A6C2E:@? 925 =@H6C AC:46D @C H2D 36DE65 @?=J 3J @?6\E:>6 @776CD] (96C6 E96C6 H6C6 D2G:?8D[ E96J 4@F=5 36 DF3DE2?E:2=] p (2D9:?8E@?:2? E2<:?8 2AC6A:E2?E[ 2? 2?E:\?2FD62 >65:42E:@?[ 4@F=5 D2G6 9F?5C65D @7 5@==2CD FD:?8 rF32?’D D:E6]k^Am
kAm%96 2?2=JD:D H2D ?@E 4@>AC696?D:G6[ 2D rF32? A@:?E65 @FE E@ zw} 3J 6>2:=] x? A2CE[ E92E’D 3642FD6 @7 E96 4@>A2?J’D AC:4:?8 >@56=i 2 `dT >2C<FA @G6C >2?F724EFC6CD’ 4@DED[ A=FD Sb 7@C =23@C A6C 5CF8 2?5 Sd E@ D9:A 6249 @C56C]k^Am
kAm|2?J 86?6C:4D 2C6 D@ 4962A E92E E96 Sd D9:AA:?8 4@DE H@F=5 DH2==@H 2?J D>2== D2G:?8D] $E:==[ rF32? ?@E65[ 3F?5=:?8 >F=E:A=6 5CF8D — 2== H:E9 @?6 Sd D9:AA:?8 492C86 — >:89E 6?5 FA 36:?8 4962A6C @G6C2==]k^Am
kAm~E96C C68:@?D @7 E96 4@F?ECJ >:89E 92G6 =6DD 72G@C23=6 AC:4:?8] (96? AC6D6?E65 H:E9 zw}’D 2?2=JD:D[ rF32? E9@F89E 4@DE 4@>A2C:D@?D >:89E 36 36EE6C 6=D6H96C6] “|2J36 :? sr E96J H6C6 @776C:?8 2 w2AAJ w@FC DA64:2= iX[” 96 HC@E6[ H:E9 2EE24965 D4C66?D9@ED 4@>A2C:?8 9:D D:E6’D AC:4:?8 @7 3@E9 `_ 2?5 c_ >:==:8C2>D’ 5@D286 @7 2E@CG2DE2E:?[ 2 A@AF=2C 49@=6DE6C@= 5CF8[ H:E9 E96 4@DE 2E 2 r'$ :? s2==2D] WqFE D62C49:?8 :? s2==2D 5:5?’E C6G62= 36EE6C C6DF=EDi %96C6 H2D 2E =62DE @?6 @?=:?6 @C 3C:4<\2?5\>@CE2C @AE:@? 7@C 6249 5@D286 2?5 BF2?E:EJ H:E9 =@H6C AC:46D E92? rF32?’D 4@>A2?J]Xk^Am
kAm$@ H9J 2C6 E96 AC:46D ?@E ?646DD2C:=J =@H6C @? rF32?’D D:E6 E92? 6=D6H96C6n xE’D 5F6 E@ E96 A64F=:2C:E:6D @7 E96 962=E9 42C6 D64E@C] (9:=6 9:D %H:EE6C 3:@ 564=2C6D 96’D “5F?<:?8 @? E96 A92C>2 :?5FDECJ[” H92E rF32? >62?D :D ?@E H92E >@DE A6@A=6 E9:?< 96 >62?D]k^Am
kAm“x G:6H @FC 4@>A6E:E:@? ?@E C62==J D@ >F49 2D E96 24EF2= 86?6C:4 A92C>246FE:42= >2?F724EFC6CD E96>D6=G6D[” r@DE !=FD sCF8D 4@\7@F?56C sC] p=6I ~D9>J2?D<J D2:5 :? 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGl|;g#7GJ9q;DU2>Aj230492??6=l!92C>24J!@542DE}6EH@C<QmA@542DE 23@FE A92C>24:6D 7C@> |2C49 a_a`k^2m]k^Am
kAmx?5665[ ~D9>J2?D<J D2:5[ E96J’C6 4@>A6E:?8 H:E9 A92C>24J 36?67:E >2?286CD 2?5 H9@=6D2=6CD]k^Am
kAmrF32?’D 36E D@ 72C[ E96C67@C6[ :D =6DD E92E 5CF8 >2?F724EFC6CD 2C6 :?7=2E:?8 4@DED E92? E92E E96 4@>A2?:6D :? 36EH66? — !q|D[ H9@=6D2=6CD[ 2?5 A92C>24:6D — 2C6]k^Am
kAmp?5 E92E 36E :D =6DD =:<6=J E@ A2J @77 7@C rF32?] w6C6’D H9Ji !q|D ?68@E:2E6 4@DED @G6C 2 32D<6E @7 5CF8D 7@C E96:C 4=:6?ED — :?DFC6CD 2?5 6>A=@J6CD] %96J ECJ E@ 249:6G6 2 E@E2= 5CF8\DA6?5 ?F>36C A6C >6>36C @7 6249 A=2?] ~AE:>:K:?8 E96 4@DE @7 6249 5CF8 7@C 6249 A2E:6?E :D ?@E ?646DD2C:=J E96:C 8@2=]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGl!a`+30~J$x8U2>Aj230492??6=lz2:D6Cw62=E9}6HDQm$@ !q|D 2446AEk^2m C632E6D 7C@> A92C>246FE:42= 4@>A2?:6D 2?5 FD6 @E96C DEC2E68:6D E92E C65F46 DA6?5:?8 W:? E96@CJX H:E9@FE ?646DD2C:=J C65F4:?8 E96 AC:46 @7 :?5:G:5F2= 5CF8D] !92C>24:6D[ :? EFC?[ 4@?EC24E H:E9 >F=E:A=6 !q|D]k^Am
kAm%96 AC:46 @776C65 3J !q|D 42? G2CJ — 52J E@ 52J[ D@>6E:>6D] %92E’D H9J @C82?:K2E:@?D =:<6 v@@5#I WH9:49 288C682E6D AC:46D 24C@DD D6G6C2= @FE=6EDX 2?5 D@>6 :?56A6?56?E A92C>24:6D WH9:49 42? 24BF:C6 >65:42E:@?D 7C@> H9@=6D2=6CD =@@<:?8 7@C 9:896C G@=F>6X 42? @AA@CEF?:DE:42==J @776C 36EE6C AC:46D @? D6=64E65 86?6C:4D] xE’D 2=D@ H9J D:8?:7:42?E=J =@H6C:?8 E@E2= 5CF8 DA6?5 :D 5:77:4F=E]k^Am
kAm~E96C =2C86 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 ECJ:?8 @E96C 4@DE\=@H6C:?8 DEC2E68:6D] p>2K@?[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ 92D =2F?4965 2 DF3D4C:AE:@? D6CG:46 7@C >6>36CD @7 :ED !C:>6 4=F3 E92E AC@G:56D 7@C F?=:>:E65 2446DD E@ db 86?6C:4 >65:42E:@?D] %96C6’D DF3DE2?E:2= @G6C=2A 36EH66? p>2K@?’D 2?5 rF32?’D =:DE] x7 p>2K@?’D 4=@FE H@CC:6D rF32?[ 96’D ?@E D2J:?8 D@] “x H@?’E DA62< @? E96 C64@C5 23@FE 4@>A6E:E@CD[” 96 E@=5 zw}]k^Am
kAmxE’D 4@>>@? 7@C =2C86 C6E2:=6CD — =:<6 (2=>2CE — E@ @776C =@H[ 7:I65 AC:46D 7@C >2?J 86?6C:4D] %96C6 2C6 2=D@ DE2CEFAD[ =:<6 @?6 42==65 #6?66[ E92E @776C DF3D4C:AE:@? D6CG:46D 7@C 86?6C:4D]k^Am
kAmrF32?’D 4@>A2?J @44FA:6D 2? F?FDF2= ?:496 :? E96 >2C<6E] xE’D ?@E 2 A92C>24J — :E C6=:6D @? %CF6A:==[ 2 5:8:E2= >2:=\@C56C 4@>A2?J[ 7@C E9@D6 D6CG:46D] xE’D 2=D@ ?@E 2 !q| — E9@F89 :E 92D A2CE?6C65 H:E9 2 76H]k^Am
kAmr@DE !=FD sCF8D 92D DE2CE65 E96 AC@46DD @7 3F:=5:?8 :ED @H? 724E@CJ 7@C 86?6C:4D[ 3FE C:89E ?@H 4C:E:4D H@?56C H96E96C :E’D C62==J 492?8:?8 E96 DFAA=J 492:?] “%96J 5@ ?@E 244@>A=:D9 E96:C >:DD:@? @7 6=:>:?2E:?8 E96 >:55=6>6? 2D E96J 5@ ?@E J6E >2?F724EFC6 2?JE9:?8 2?5 5@ ?@E @A6C2E6 E96:C @H? A92C>24J[ :]6][ E96J 2C6 @?=J >:55=6>6?[” 4@?4=F565 zJ=6 |4r@C>:4<[ H9@ CF?D 2? :?56A6?56?E A92C>24J E92E 2=D@ @776CD 42D9 AC:46D 32D65 @? 2 D:>:=2C >2C<FA @G6C E96 4@DE @7 E96 5CF8D]k^Am
kAm“xE 7CFDEC2E6D >6 E92E E96J 4=2:> E@ 36 :??@G2E:?8 H96? 2== E96J 2C6 4FCC6?E=J 5@:?8 :D 5@:?8 E9:?8D D=:89E=J 36EE6C E92? :?4F>36?ED[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmrF32? @7E6? 56>@?:K6D 9:D 4@>A6E:E@CD[ v@@5#I rt~ s@F8 w:CD49 D2:5] “w6VD 2 %' A6CD@?2=:EJ 2?5 96 5@6D 2 8C62E ;@3 2E 3@EE=:?8 E96 2?86C E92E 4@?DF>6CD 92G6[” 96 D2:5[ 367@C6 4@?465:?8 96 H2D 8=25 rF32? H2D :? E96 >2C<6E]k^Am
kAmx?5665[ E96 >65:2 3=:EK :D 2 4C:E:42= :?8C65:6?E :? E96 4@>A2?J’D DF446DD D@ 72C] rF32? 92D D2:5 9:D 4@>A2?J 5@6D?’E DA6?5 >@?6J @? >2C<6E:?8] $@>6 4C65:E E96 D:K6 @7 9:D %H:EE6C 7@==@H:?8 W?62C=J h >:==:@? 244@F?EDX @C 9:D 23:=:EJ E@ 62C? ?6HD 4@G6C286] rF32? 4C65:ED H@C5\@7\>@FE9]k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 A2E:6?ED’ 4@>>6?ED @? D@4:2= >65:2 2C6 86?6C2==J 72G@C23=6[ E96C6 2C6 6I46AE:@?D — 2?5 C6G62=:?8 @?6D] t=:D236E9 q:EC@D[ 2 v6?6C2E:@? ) ?FCD6’D 2:56 7C@> }6H y6CD6J[ D2:5 D96 DH:E4965 2?E:56AC6DD2?ED E@ r@DE !=FD sCF8D 27E6C 96C 3C:4<\2?5\>@CE2C A92C>24J EC:65 E@ 492C86 96C 9F?5C65D @7 5@==2CD] qFE rF32?’D 4@>A2?J H2D?’E A6C764E 6:E96C[ D96 D2:5] p 8=:E49 56=2J65 E96 C67:==D 7@C 96C 2?E:56AC6DD2?E 2C@F?5 E96 a_aa 9@=:52J D62D@?]k^Am
kAm“%9:D >65:42E:@?[ J@F DE2CE E@ H:E95C2H :7 J@F >:DD 2 5@D6[” D96 D2:5] “x 5@?VE H2?E E@ 8@ E9C@F89 E96 9@=:52JD H:E95C2H:?8P” qFE 86EE:?8 4FDE@>6C D6CG:46 7C@> r@DE !=FD sCF8D H2D 492==6?8:?8i xE H2D 92C5 E@ 86E 9@=5 @7 D@>6@?6 3J A9@?6] “xE H2D 2== 5@?6 6=64EC@?:42==J[” D96 D2:5] p7E6C 2 76H 52JD @7 E28\E62>:?8 E96 D6CG:46 H:E9 96C 5@4E@C[ D96 H6?E 324< E@ r'$]k^Am
kAmrF32? 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E @? q:EC@D’ 42D6 DA64:7:42==J @? E96 C64@C5[ 3FE HC@E6i “(6 ECJ E@ 36 G6CJ EC2?DA2C6?E 23@FE E96 724E E92E H9:=6 H6 92G6 @A6C2E@CD E92E 2C6 2G2:=23=6 2?5 H6 2C6 2=H2JD =@@<:?8 7@C 6I46AE:@?D E92E ?665 A6CD@?2= 2EE6?E:@? 2?5 :>AC@G:?8 @FC DFAA@CE[ H6 H@?VE 36 E96 72DE6DE @C 9:896DE E@F49 D@FC46]”k^Am
kAmrF32? 4@?4=F565i “%92EVD ;FDE 2 C62=:EJ E92E 4@>6D H:E9 36:?8 E96 =@H\4@DE AC@G:56C]”k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^<9?]@C8^23@FE\FDQmzw}k^2m Wz2:D6C w62=E9 }6HDX :D 2 ?2E:@?2= ?6HDC@@> E92E AC@5F46D :?\56AE9 ;@FC?2=:D> 23@FE 962=E9 :DDF6D] %@86E96C H:E9 !@=:4J p?2=JD:D 2?5 !@==:?8[ zw} :D @?6 @7 E96 E9C66 >2;@C @A6C2E:?8 AC@8C2>D 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]<77]@C8^23@FE\FD^Qmzuuk^2m Wz2:D6C u2>:=J u@F?52E:@?X] zuu :D 2? 6?5@H65 ?@?AC@7:E @C82?:K2E:@? AC@G:5:?8 :?7@C>2E:@? @? 962=E9 :DDF6D E@ E96 ?2E:@?]k^Am
k9bm&$t ~&# r~}%t}%k^9bm
kAm%9:D DE@CJ 42? 36 C6AF3=:D965 7@C 7C66 Wk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^<9?]@C8^?6HD^2CE:4=6^42=:7@C?:2\C6BF:C6D\9@DA:E2=D\E@\EFC?\E@\2\A2E:6?ED\?6IE\@7\<:?\4=@D:?8\2\=@?8E:>6\=@@A9@=6^G:6H^C6AF3=:D9^Qm56E2:=Dk^2mX]k^Am

