Martin Shkreli: Not sorry.

Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli wouldn’t change a thing.

During a long-form interview that was broadcast Friday on MedCity News, Shkreli said:

• While he plans to lower the price, Turing’s 5,000+ percent price increase on Daraprim was appropriate. It will lower the drug to the point Turing will not make an “excessive profit on Daraprim, but also said: “The break even for the price is approximately $750.”
• He is committed to making sure patients pay no more than $20 out of pocket for a course of his drug. But he is less concerned about passing the balance of the $750 price tag on to insurance companies and the government.
• He seemed psychically bulletproof from online shrapnel but unapologetic about his own salvos. When asked about calling FierceBiotech Editor John Carroll, who was part of Friday’s interview, “a moron,” he responded: “I still think John’s a moron, for the record.”

Shkreli joined MedHeads, MedCityNews.com’s weekly video podcast on the business of innovation in healthcare. He was joined by Carroll, Timmerman Report founder Luke Timmerman and MedCity News’ biotech-pharma reporter Meghana Keshavan, while I served as the moderator.

There were moments in the conversation where everyone got down to brass tacks: what got lost in this week’s twitter storm was a serious discussion of a fair price for drugs – not just price-gouging, but increasing costs of other drugs and creating a real (and potentially federally regulated) way better price drugs.

But listen to the nearly 40-minute conversation and see if you’re left asking them same question: Did he change anyone’s mind?

A responsible and experienced CEO would have never made this mistake. He is a hedge fund guy and not a CEO. https://t.co/a1mALvmruM

— Willow Campi (@WillowCampi) September 25, 2015

I thought @medcitynews gave Shkreli every opportunity to redeem himself. And he used it to say “Honey badger don’t give a fuck.” #Medheads — Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) September 25, 2015

#medheads focus on out-of-pocket costs is not the issue – if insurers get stuck with the bill this eventually is reflected in premiums

— Red Acre Investments (@redacre) September 25, 2015

@medcitynews @MartinShkreli certainly doesn’t back down from fight. 1st time viewing #medheads but not last @JohnCFierce @ShoreRandD — John Hall (@johnhallnj) September 25, 2015

Fair drug prcing just became a discussion industry does not want to have. #medheads

— Stephanie Fraser (@ssfraser) September 25, 2015

It’s not all about price of prescription drugs, people, it’s about proof of value. #medheads — Paul Snyder (@pdsnyder) September 25, 2015

I talk drugs/drug prices all the time w/friends, family. I’m gonna hafta defend/avoid Shkreli for the next two years. #medheads

— Chemjobber (@Chemjobber) September 25, 2015

This @medcitynews hangout with Martin Shkreli has officially turned into an douchebag intervention/encounter session…I love it #medheads — Thornton McEnery (@ThorntonMcEnery) September 25, 2015

 

@ElieNYC @medcitynews Certainly true Shkreli given every op. More like a Shkreli platform than necessary, hard-hitting interview.

— Barbara J. Martin MD (@Pathophilia) September 25, 2015

#medheads While his donations are appreciable it should be kept separate from daraprim price rise. These are two different things

— gaurav joshi (@gauravjoshi) September 25, 2015

.@MartinShkreli continues his sociopathic attempts at rationalization. @nversel #Medheads

— Spelling Patrol (@SpellingPatrol) September 25, 2015

Could use a little PR guidance, don’tcha think? Still, very entertaining #medheads

— JanetCabibbo (@JanetCabibbo) September 25, 2015