This pharma CEO won praise for his ‘social contract’ with the public. But his latest move could shred that pledge

One year ago, Brent Saunders tried to single-handedly reset the national debate over drug pricing.

The Allergan chief executive issued a “social contract” and vowed to keep price hikes below 10 percent a year. He argued that drug makers could — and should — act responsibly amid smoldering criticism over prices. Few companies followed suit, but Saunders won a high profile for his efforts.

Now, though, an ingenious deal he struck to protect Allergan’s patents on a lucrative drug calls into question his campaign to do right by the American public. In short, the social contract may be headed for the trash bin.