News Brief: Major Drugmakers Strike Pricing Deals with Trump Administration
Summary
Fourteen of the seventeen largest pharmaceutical companies have agreed to voluntary deals with the Trump administration to significantly lower U.S. drug prices. In exchange, they receive a three-year exemption from planned pharmaceutical tariffs, contingent on further investment in U.S. manufacturing.
Key Points
- Deals Signed: Companies including Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Amgen, Gilead, GSK, Sanofi, Roche’s Genentech, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novartis joined earlier deals with Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, and Novo Nordisk.
- Major Commitment: Bristol Myers Squibb will offer its blockbuster blood thinner Eliquis for free to Medicaid patients.
- Mechanism: Companies agree to sell drugs at the lowest “most favored nation” prices to Medicaid and for new medicines, and list popular drugs on the upcoming TrumpRx website.
- Specific Discounts: Several firms announced major discounts (e.g., ~70% off for certain Sanofi, Merck drugs; 60-80% off for Amgen products) through direct-to-patient programs.
- Context & Motivation: The move is part of Trump’s “most favored nation” policy aiming to lower U.S. prices and raise them abroad. U.S. drug prices are, on average, nearly three times higher than overseas.
- Holdouts: Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie, and Regeneron are the remaining large companies yet to sign deals, though Trump indicated J&J is in talks.
- Industry Stance: While supporting affordability, some industry voices (e.g., PhRMA) criticize the approach, blaming pharmacy benefit managers for high prices instead.
新闻简报：主要制药公司与特朗普政府达成定价协议
摘要
十七家最大的制药公司中，已有十四家与特朗普政府达成自愿协议，大幅降低美国药品价格。作为交换，它们获得了为期三年的计划中药品关税豁免，条件是进一步投资美国制造业。
关键点
- 已签署协议的公司：默克、百时美施贵宝、安进、吉利德、葛兰素史克、赛诺菲、罗氏的基因泰克、勃林格殷格翰和诺华等公司加入了此前与辉瑞、阿斯利康、礼来和诺和诺德达成的协议。
- 重要承诺：百时美施贵宝将向其畅销的顶级处方药、血液稀释剂Eliquis向医疗补助计划患者免费提供。
- 运作机制：公司同意以最低的”最惠国”价格向医疗补助计划销售药品并保证新药定价，同时将热门药品列入即将推出的TrumpRx网站。
- 具体折扣：多家公司宣布通过直接面向患者的计划提供大幅折扣（例如，赛诺菲、默克的某些药物折扣约70%；安进的产品月度价格折扣60-80%）。
- 背景与动机：此举是特朗普”最惠国”政策的一部分，旨在降低美国药价并提高海外价格。美国处方药价格平均比海外高出近三倍。
- 尚未签约者：强生、艾伯维和再生元是剩余尚未签约的大型公司，但特朗普表示强生正在洽谈中。
- 行业立场：尽管支持提高可负担性，但一些行业声音（如PhRMA）批评该方法，将高药价归咎于药品福利管理机构。
Original Article Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/19/nine-pharma-companies-ink-deals-with-trump-to-lower-drug-prices.html