Martin Shkreli (a.k.a. “Pharma Bro”), remember him? Well, he’s back! Sorta.
In case you need a reminder, Shekreli’s the former pharmaceutical exec who, in 2015, jacked up the price of an AIDS medication called Daraprim from $13.50 a pill to $750 a pill then he went TV to say he regretted not raising the price even higher. In 2018, he was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after being found guilty of securities fraud and conspiracy.
Related: “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli allegedly made gay sex claims to reel in an investor
The 37-year-old, who is currently being held at a low-security facility in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, recently petitioned to be released from prison so he could research possible treatments for coronavirus. Unfortunately for him, a judge denied his request over the weekend.
On Saturday, U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto issued a nine-page ruling saying that Shkreli didn’t offer a single compelling reason why he might be eligible house arrest, which some non-violent, vulnerable inmates have been granted during the pandemic.
Related: Even Donald Trump Thinks “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli Sucks, Calls Him A “Spoiled Brat”
Shkreli had tried saying the country’s current response to coronavirus has been “inadequate” and claiming his experience “as a successful two-time biopharma entrepreneur, having purchased multiple companies, invented multiple new drug candidates” positioned him to find a cure.
But Matsumoto wrote that Shkreli’s belief he could find a cure for a deadly virus that has “so far eluded the best medical and scientific minds in the world working around the clock” is yet another example of Pharma Bro’s “delusional self-aggrandizing behavior,” which he exhibited throughout his trial in 2017.
Matsumoto also noted that there hasn’t been a single case of coronavirus at the facility where Shkreli is being held, and that his alleged childhood asthma does not make him “high risk” for contracting the virus.
Following the ruling, Shkreli’s lawyer said his client was “disappointed” by the ruling, though he added it was “not unexpected.”
Related: “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli found guilty of fraud and nobody is more shocked than him
Chrisk
This little cu*t would only look at charging 500% more for it.
I’d be all in favor of using his body as a guinea pig if he wants an early release though.
Cam
The reason the Pharmaceutical executives are terrified of this guy is, he did the exact same thing they all do. He was just more obvious about it.
He raised the prices on a drug around 5000%. Whereas the “legitimate” pharmaceutical executives do something like, take the much needed epi-pen, and raise the price on it 600%, then give themselves a 5 million dollar raise. Which is EXACTLY what happened with the maker of Epi-pens.
They don’t hate this guy because they disagree with him. They hate him because he was clumsy and exposed their game.
rand503
Exactly. I’m in the biz, I know that you are correct — companies do it all time. They look for a drug that is price low, buy they company, and then jack up the price. You don’t need an MBA to figure this out! IT’s all perfectly legal as well.
succubus
shut up idiot
Cam
@succubus
What a shock, the right wing anti-LGBT troll who always defends bigots, got mad that I pointed out how Pharmaceutical CEOs are stealing money from their customers.
We get it, you support anybody terrible.
Harley
Yea, sure Jan. Right after he helps OJ find the real killer.
Troysky
@Harley …. lol ….award-winning response.
WSnyder
So, let’s volunteer him for a drug trial. First he gets a dose of COVID-19, 6000x more potent, than he gets a experimental cure 6000x stronger than normal. Hopefully he’ll first end up looking like Violet from Willy Wonka but then does actually explode.
barryaksarben
sHOw is a non- scientist going to find the cure? behind some sofa? He is just an exec who wasnt worried one little bit about keeping people alive when he jacked up prices on his drugs. Stay where you are so we can see your next vicous move coming
Dymension
What. Ever.
Thad
Regarding health science, I trust Martin Shkreli more than Donsld Trump
Cam
But is that saying much? I trust a bag full of possum diarrhea more than I’d trust Trump with anything important.
TonyPSP
We don’t need his help. He’s the kind of guy that needs to stay in prison for his entire sentence. He abused his position and indirectly killed people.
Black Pegasus
Such a punchable face.
masterwill7
Omg yes, soooo punchable!! Annoying little shit-face who needs to get his ass kicked!
missvamp
he can sit in prison & try to figure out how to cure it. give him a lab there. fuck that guy twice with a chainsaw!
jayceecook
Let’s say he does. He’ll only go around and charge thousands of dollars and some sole copies of Wu-Tang Clan albums for it.
Matthewnow
Christina bring me the ax. What living breathing yard
winemaker
Isn’t this the worthless piece of SHIT that jacked up the price of an important aids drug something like 500%? Let the bastard rot in prison and finish his sentence, like any other jail bird. So was the money he made with this price jack up worth prison time as he can’t spend the money? No sympathy here.
winemaker
Isn’t this the worthless piece of SHIT that jacked up the price of an important aids drug something like 500%? Let the bastard rot in prison and finish his sentence, like any other jail bird. So was the money he made with this price jack up worth prison time as he can’t spend the money? No sympathy here.