President Donald Trump has taken a strong stance against high drug prices by sending letters to the CEOs of 17 major pharmaceutical companies. In these letters, Trump demands that they reduce their prices for American consumers, arguing that brand-name drugs are often three times more expensive in the U.S. than in other countries for the same medications.
Trump expressed his frustration, stating that the high costs burden hardworking American families. He emphasized that his administration is committed to ending this issue. The letters, which he shared on social media, give the companies 60 days to comply with his request. They are based on an executive order he signed in May, which aims to implement "Most-Favored-Nation" (MFN) pricing. This means that drug companies would have to sell their products in the U.S. at the same prices they charge in other countries.
According to the executive order, pharmaceutical companies often charge higher prices in the U.S. to offset the discounts they provide in foreign markets. Trump’s letters instruct these companies to offer their full range of drugs at MFN prices for Medicaid patients and to negotiate with other countries to ensure that American patients benefit from any increased revenues.
Among the companies that received Trump’s letters are well-known names like AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, and Pfizer. Trump made it clear that he expects a commitment from these manufacturers to provide immediate relief from inflated drug prices. He warned that if they do not comply, his administration will use all available tools to protect American families from unfair pricing practices.
The deadline for these companies to respond is September 29. Additionally, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested that raising drug prices in other countries could significantly lower costs in the U.S.
Trump also signed another executive order in May aimed at easing regulations on the production of essential medicines in the U.S. He reiterated his determination to ensure that American innovation is not unfairly subsidized by other nations at the expense of American consumers.
