Martin Shkreli became a national figure in 2015 when his company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, acquired the drug Daraprim and raised its price from about $13.50 to $750 per pill overnight. Daraprim is used to treat serious parasitic infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. The price increase was legal, but it triggered immediate backlash from doctors, patients, and lawmakers who saw it as a clear case of exploiting a life-saving medication for profit.
Shkreli defended the move publicly, arguing that the increased revenue would support research and improve the drug. Critics pointed out that Daraprim was decades old and that the price hike had nothing to do with innovation. Hospitals and patients were forced to absorb the cost or scramble for alternatives, turning a niche pharmaceutical decision into a national debate about drug pricing and ethics.
Separate from the Daraprim controversy, Shkreli was later convicted in federal court on securities fraud charges related to hedge funds he managed prior to Turing. He was sentenced to prison and banned from the pharmaceutical industry for life. The combination of aggressive pricing and criminal conviction cemented his reputation as a symbol of how far profit-driven decision-making can go when there are few immediate constraints.
