@Dangerous_beans @pmonks I'd say that the bill should be covered by the public healthcare system, after negotiating a price with the manufacturers from the position of strength that being controlled by a national government gives, so that the pharmaceutical company has a way to recover their costs (including those for failed attempts), but is not in the position to abuse their monopoly on the specific drug.
Oh, wait, this is from the US, right?
(having non-profit entries taking care of the - expensive - R&D and trials parts would be even better, and probably a more efficient way to spend public money)