Yip, drugs are similar to software in this regard. Expensive to develop, very cheap to replicate. It'd make vastly more sense as a nationalized industry, because I think a profit motive is not only unnecessary, but actively harmful because the drugs that help society the most, and the drugs that make the most money, have little overlap.
If a big pharma had the choice between an expensive treatment that could help treat any cancer, or an extremely cheap treatment that could prevent any cancer - which would they pick? The answer when you're motivated by profit is unfortunately different than the one when you're motivated by social benefit. And this is more than just a thought experiment because this issue is going to drive which type of treatments are pursued.
If a big pharma had the choice between an expensive treatment that could help treat any cancer, or an extremely cheap treatment that could prevent any cancer - which would they pick? The answer when you're motivated by profit is unfortunately different than the one when you're motivated by social benefit. And this is more than just a thought experiment because this issue is going to drive which type of treatments are pursued.