Abstract

The biopharmaceutical supply chain is opaque; who pays what, to whom, or why remains unknown. Moreover, most participants vigorously defend this opacity as essential to securing the most favorable prices for patients.

Improving the transparency of the various transactions between the participants in the biopharmaceutical supply chain is a necessary step in making medicines affordable, but probably is not sufficient on its own.

Transparency has demonstrated benefits in many other areas— with people expecting disclosure of information—from mortgages to specific aspects of financial trading and nutrition labeling to fuel economy and workplace safety.