Gilead Sciences Inc (GILD)

[Chicadow]

"Expensive one-time treatments like Sovaldi can be a shock to the system."

I'm personally long- and plopped another chunk down today for more shares. The parade in DC for Congress to scream and yell may cause a knee-jerk reaction in price for a couple days (which means I should have waited to buy more, but anyway....) In the long run, I don't see it having any effect on price or demand whatsoever. It's all a show for politicians to tug at the heartstrings of voters. In fact they'll probably have their broker on the phone as they walk out of the committee meeting to get some cheapies.

The quote at the top is the exact reason why they have no legitimate argument. That "shock to the system" of having to pay a large chunk in a short time is still cheaper than the slow, painful, MORE EXPENSIVE effect that does not cure HepC. That attitude of dealing with it later is exactly what has put this country in enormous debt. It's simple math. Curing a patient is cheaper than lifelong treatment of symptoms, transplants, dialysis, on and on.

Kinda like making an extra mortgage payment every year. It may hurt, but it's only going to hurt for about 17 years. Then you have 13 years to enjoy your house, and your vacation, and your boat, and your Tesla. (I had to throw the Tesla in there. You either have one or need one.)