By Stephen S. Hall, New York Magazine, Oct. 20 online & Oct. 28 issue cover story

The article investigates prices like these

Avastin, $5,000/month; Zaltrap, $11,000/month; Yervoy, $39,000/month; Provenge, $93,000/course of treatment; Erbitux, $8,400/month; Gleevec, $92,000/year; Tasigna, $115,000/year; Sprycel, $123,000/year.

how they got that way, how some oncologists are finally ganging up to protest against them, how this has ultimately been caused by Medicare's approval process, and how other countries have handled it differently.

Also I would note for those intimately interested in the effectiveness of certain cancer drugs, it is a "must read," as there is good information along the way about what top oncologists really think, in layman's language. Including how most of the newest extend life for a few months with the cost of both extra pain and money while some of the oldest (that used to be the most inexpensive but have risen in cost to "compete" with rising prices for newer drugs) are the ones that are most effective and should be demanded at more reasonable rates.

Overall, makes it very clear how the laws of markets don't work in the U.S. when it comes to pharmaceuticals. Here, current Medicare and FDA policy and regulations have warped the market to the point where it's almost as if the buyer is demanding the highest possible prices from the seller, rather than he usual "fair market." And often buying a pig in a poke to boot.

Note: The first title I used is the one that is used on the cover of this week's dead tree issue. the second is the title used online.