When a pharma company approaches the FDA with a new drug—hoping to win approval—they have to pay an upfront fee.

That usual fee is $3,672,848.

That’s a nice chunk of change. Very nice.

Although federal law forbids an employee of the Agency from pocketing any of that money, it does set up a situation where the drug company expects FDA to give them something in return. Like approval of the drug.

Now get this. When the FDA DOES approve a drug, the company must pay the FDA $393,933. Not just once, but for every year, going forward, during which company sells the drug in the US.