Donald Trump slams Martin Shkreli

Martin Shkreli, founder and CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, has been slammed by businessman and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for hiking up price of a 62-year-old drug, Daraprim.

On Wednesday, in a press conference held in South Carolina, Trump campaigned for the whole day and also gave statements on different issues, together with the most recent controversies in the pharmaceutical industry.

He was asked about his opinion about Martin Shkreli. Trump said in response that he is like a 'spoiled brat' and that he thinks of him as 'hot stuff', especially during the beginning of the week when he was inclined towards controversies.

According to the ex-Apprentice host, Shkreli presented the whole matter in a ridiculous way and the degree with which he raised the amount is totally unreasonable. Trump said in the end that Shkreli is nothing more than a zero and he should feel ashamed of himself. Trump said that his actions were shameful and disgusting.

Trump also talked about his future plans in relation to 'hedge fund officials' once he wins presidential election.

Trump told reporters in the South Carolina campaign stop that Shkreli has raised the price to a high level and it is totally absurd. According to him, "And he's a hedge-fund guy, who, as you know, [are] the only one[s] that I'm raising taxes on. They are going to be paying up. I thought it was a disgusting thing, what he did. I thought it was a disgrace".

Martin Shkreli is an American hedge fund manager and entrepreneur, specializing in healthcare businesses, and is a co-founder of MSMB Capital Management and the founder of Turing Pharmaceuticals AG.

In September 2015, Shkreli was criticized by several health organizations for obtaining manufacturing licenses on old, out-of-patent, life-saving medicines including pyrimethamine (brand name Daraprim), which is used to treat patients with toxoplasmosis, malaria, some cancers, and AIDS, and then increasing the price of the drug in the US from $13.50 to $750 per pill, a 5,455% increase.