The new bipartisan Senate bill aimed at making Big Pharma lower drug prices, explained

When it comes to government funding for drug research, an interesting paradox currently exists.

While many pharmaceutical companies benefit from federal funding for research, this doesn’t necessarily translate to lower prices for patients who ultimately buy the drugs that are developed. In other words, the government is effectively subsidizing companies’ ability to develop drugs and then charge exorbitant prices for them.

Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Rick Scott (R-FL) want to change that.

Their new bill, first provided to Vox, would require companies that have received research funding from...