In the last year, the drug industry has raised the wholesale prices of brand-name prescription drugs by about 9%, according to industry analysts. That will add more than $10 billion to the nation's drug bill, which is on track to exceed $300 billion this year. Drug makers say they have valid business reasons for the price increases, but critics say the industry is trying to establish a higher price base before Congress passes legislation that tries to curb drug spending in coming years.
