VOA标准英语2016--前美国制药企业高管激怒国会议员

Former Drug CEO Martin Shkreli Angers Lawmakers 前美国制药企业高管激怒国会议员

A former U.S. pharmaceutical¹ business executive has angered lawmakers by refusing to explain why he raised the price of a life-saving pill by 5,000 percent.

Martin Shkreli was removed from a congressional hearing on Thursday after citing his Fifth Amendment² right to stay silent. The 32-year-old received a subpoena³ to appear before the hearing after his former company, Turing Pharmaceuticals⁴, raised the price of Daraprim, the drug used for treating AIDS and certain types of cancer, from $13.50 to $750 per pill.

When the price for Daraprim went up sharply in August of last year, the general public, politicians and even industry officials reacted with outrage⁵. The price was increased shortly after Turing, under Shkreli's leadership, bought the patent for the drug. U.S. lawmakers and the Federal Trade Commission are now investigating whether the company violated anti-trust laws.

Fifth Amendment

On Wednesday, Shkreli refused to cooperate.

"On the advice of counsel, I invoke⁶ my Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and respectfully decline to answer your question," Shkreli said.

Furthermore, the former hedge fund manager appeared to be smirking⁷ at lawmakers, which prompted his removal from the hearing.

Shkreli's lawyer later tried to justify⁸ his behavior.

"Some of what you saw was nervous energy by an individual who very much would like to explain what happened, but has agreed to listen to his lawyer," Shkreli's attorny, Ben Brafman, said.

But Shkreli's Twitter message later in the day showed only contempt for Congress.

"He had a wonderful opportunity to do what he said he wanted to do, which was educate Congress on drug pricing and he skipped it. So, I guess he wasn't all that interested in educating us after all," Representative Trey Gowdy of South Carolina said.

Turing and other companies selling expensive drugs say much of the revenues are invested in research and development of new life-saving drugs. Asked about the morality of making the Daraprim price unaffordable to many critically ill patients, a Truing representative said the company also invests in "patient access programs."

"We didn't want the price increase to disadvantage patients in any way," Turing's Nancy Retzlaff said.

Rejected claims

But some lawmakers came well prepared to reject such claims.

"They (the pharmaceutical companies) will downplay their massive profits by claiming that they help patients who can't afford their exorbitant⁹ prices. The testimony¹⁰ from the drug companies today will be the same. But the difference now is that we've seen behind their smoke screen," Representative Elijah Cummings of Maryland said.

Analysts¹¹ say Shkreli's behavior will hurt the U.S. pharmaceutical industry.

"I think it definitely angered a lot of people. And, what's unfortunate is this is going to raise calls for price control in pharmaceuticals more generally," said Yevgeniy Feyman of the Manhattan Institute.

Shkreli is facing charges of securities fraud in two other companies.

1 pharmaceutical   

adj.药学的，药物的；药用的，药剂师的

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a pharmaceutical laboratory.她捐款成立了一个药剂实验室。
• We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。

2 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

3 subpoena   

n.（法律）传票；v.传讯

参考例句：

• He was brought up to court with a subpoena.他接到传讯，来到法庭上。
• Select committees have the power to subpoena witnesses.特别委员会有权传唤证人。

4 pharmaceuticals   

n.医药品；药物( pharmaceutical的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the development of new pharmaceuticals 新药的开发
• The companies are pouring trillions of yen into biotechnology research,especially for pharmaceuticals and new seeds. 这些公司将大量资金投入生物工艺学研究，尤其是药品和新种子方面。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

6 invoke   

v.求助于(神、法律)；恳求，乞求

参考例句：

• Let us invoke the blessings of peace.让我们祈求和平之福。
• I hope I'll never have to invoke this clause and lodge a claim with you.我希望我永远不会使用这个条款向你们索赔。

7 smirking   

v.傻笑( smirk的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Major Pendennis, fresh and smirking, came out of his bedroom to his sitting-room. 潘登尼斯少校神采奕奕，笑容可掬地从卧室来到起居室。 来自辞典例句
• The big doll, sitting in her new pram smirking, could hear it quite plainly. 大娃娃坐在崭新的童车里，满脸痴笑，能听得一清二楚。 来自辞典例句

8 justify   

vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护

参考例句：

• He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
• Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗？

9 exorbitant   

adj.过分的；过度的

参考例句：

• More competition should help to drive down exorbitant phone charges.更多的竞争有助于降低目前畸高的电话收费。
• The price of food here is exorbitant. 这儿的食物价格太高。

10 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

11 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。