expression
medicines are sold at huge markups; pharmaceuticals are highly profitable
A yojijukugo proverb meaning that medicines are sold at many times their production cost, making the pharmaceutical business very lucrative. Often used to comment on the high price of drugs.
薬九層倍と言われるように、薬の値段は原価の何倍にもなることがある。
As the saying goes, 'medicines are sold at huge markups,' and drug prices can be many times their cost.