Causing a Drug Price Hike

1a. Match the words to the definition.

a) maintain a profit 1. boost, raise

b) inflate 2. crime of gaining financial benefits by a trick
c) fraud or by lying
d) bail 3. cash given to the court by a prisoner to
e) fund secure conditional release from custody
4. preserve a company from failure by
generating income
5. a pool of money set aside for a specific
purpose

1b. Fill the sentences with the correct word from ex. 1a

1. My attorney is applying for _________ in a murder case.

2. As we are not able to raise capital without external help, we need to find a
good hedge ________ manager.
3. He committed ________ by supporting criminal enterprises.
4. If we don't ________________ this quarter, I'm afraid we will need to
dissolve the company.
5. Very often, companies manipulate the market by _________ stock prices.

2. The following words have more than one meaning. Explain the differences
between them.

a) sentence:
b) trial:
c) fine:

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3. Click on the icon, watch the video and answer the following
questions:

a) What is the company’s justification for increasing the price

of the drug?
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b) What disease does Daraprim cure?

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c) Can a pharmaceutical company do something different than increasing the price of

a drug when there is a market for a drug?
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d) How does Martin Shkreli describe his company?

____________________________________________________________________
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e) What does the company’s R&D department occupy with?

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4. Complete the sentences from the video with the missing word.

a) We’re going to contribute the majority of our ______________ to doing that.

b) This HIV doc I just spoke with said they’re trying to _____________ it in order to
provide it.
c) We paid a very large amount by an ________________ medicine.
d) If you think about free markets and fair price it’s pretty clear that Daraprim was not
price __________________.
e) It’s, in fact, a very short treatment administration, which makes it even less
expensive than most ____________ drugs that you have to take for years and years.

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Before proceeding to the next exercises, click on the graphic and read the following
article:

5. Read the definitions of the missing words and fill the gaps in the text with these
words.

“For years, Shkreli told lie after lie in order to a) _____________ his investors’
money, manipulate the stock market and enrich himself,” stated United States
Attorney Donoghue. “He will now pay the price for repeatedly violating the trust
placed in him by his investors, his b) _____________ and the public. It remains a
priority of this Office, together with our law enforcement partners, to identify,
investigate and bring to justice criminals like Shkreli.” Mr. Donoghue thanked the
Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Regional Office (SEC), and the
Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, Inc., Criminal Prosecution Assistance Group (FINRA CPAG), for their
significant c) ____________ and assistance in this case.

“Martin Shkreli was notoriously ambitious, seeking to enrich himself at the expense
of those who unwittingly invested in his lies,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-
Charge Sweeney. “His d) __________ have been laid bare for all to see, and his
intentions, which have been proven true beyond a reasonable doubt, resulted in this
sentencing today. While we can now close this chapter of our investigation, our
efforts continue to uncover and expose all crimes of this nature that claim innocent
e) ____________ and defraud our financial markets.”

a) to take away
b) the people who work for you
c) working together
d) illegal actions
e) harmed or tricked people

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6. Discuss the following questions:

a) What may be the possible results of raising prices of drugs for serious diseases?
b) Do you think the verdict against Martin Shkreli was fair? If not, how else would
you punish him?
c) Can you describe another famous court case?

7. Read a short introduction to Passive Voice.

PASSIVE VOICE
"TO BE" (adjusted to the tense and person) + PAST PARTICIPLE

Present Simple: Maria waters her plants every day. -> Maria's plants are watered
(by her) every day.
Present Continuous: Maria is watering her plants. -> Maria's plants are being watered
Present Perfect: Maria has watered her plants. -> Maria's plants have been watered.
Past Simple: Maria watered her plants. -> Maria's plants were watered (by her).
Going to: Maria is going to water her plants. -> Maria's plants are going to be watered.
Future Simple: Maria will water her plants. -> Maria's plants will be watered.

8. Change the following sentences from the article into Passive Voice:

a) The Court also ordered Shkreli to pay a $75,000 fine and $7.3 million in
forfeiture.
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b) He will now pay the price for repeatedly violating the trust placed in him by his
investors, his employees and the public.

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c) Additionally, Shkreli used MSMB Healthcare assets to pay obligations that were
not MSMB Healthcare’s responsibility.

________________________________________________________

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9. Change the form of the following sentences from active to passive.

1. The school regularly organizes fundraisings for people in need.

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2. The court sentenced the accused to 5 years in prison.

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3. The producer of the drug has released new recommendations.

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4. The company was testing this drug for years.

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5. Our leader will process the application of a new candidate.

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6. The manager is supervising the work of the team.

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10. Let's sum it up! Tell the story of Martin Shkreli using the infographics below.

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