It is completely inexcusable that people in STEM fields are so reactionary, considering how capitalism utterly destroys science.
If universities were actually "left wing indoctrination factories" like the right thinks they are, every STEM grad would be taught, for example, what Kropotkin had to say about innovation.
Are you saying that the "real cost" is 500k? Because that's still kind of insane.
I'm unsure now, I tried to find the article I read that from. Obviously its super hard to get the true material cost of a drug, I dont think Biogen wants that information out there.
However I did find a light description of their process
Based on this I found an article that breaks down the cost of AAV vector production: https://www.insights.bio/immuno-oncology-insights/journal/article/15/cost-modelling-comparison-of-adherent-multi-trays-with-suspension-and-fixed-bed-bioreactors-for-the-manufacturing-of-gene-therapy-products
From figure 5 most doses are around 10K$ considering all costs, now we can be super generous and say that zoglmas material cost is something from 10k$ - 100K$ per dose.