There's nothing sleazy about what he's done. He's a capitalist. Charging customers as much as they are willing to pay is the very soul of capitalism.

I would humbly disagree. The free-market economic model of society is a bit more complex than that. There are other elements at play, such as free and fair competition - and the ability of both the buyer and seller to choose whether or not they wish to buy or sell. (That would be the "free" bit of "free-market".)

When it comes to the powerless, this principle is distorted - or absent completely. A starving woman will sell you her body for a single meal, yet is this a free-market exchange? A person dying a painful death will often pay any price to stay alive, yet is this a free-market exchange?

There once was an ultra-capitalist quite like this Shkreli fellow. His name was Marcus Licinius Crassus and he established the first fire brigade in ancient Rome. When there was a fire his brigade of 500 or so men would arrive at the scene - and do nothing. Crassus would then negotiate with the property owner about saving his home and family. The price, usually, was the home. Your family might be saved, but the attempt would cost you your home and lands. A free-market exchange? I would humbly disagree.

In a purely predatory dog-eat-dog world, where exploitative capitalism knows no limits, there exists no other possible theoretical outcome for all humanity other than for all wealth to ultimately culminate in the hands of one single person, while the rest of the human species are his slaves. Surely we can do better. There should be some limits. Exploiting the utterly powerless should not be allowed.