In a bold move last week, President Donald J. Trump addressed 17 major pharmaceutical companies, sending letters that laid out specific actions they must undertake to reduce prescription drug prices for American consumers. One of the key demands? Aligning U.S. drug prices with the lowest rates offered in other developed nations.
It’s baffling that American consumers should be subjected to such inflated prices for medications that are identical in packaging and production to those available elsewhere. President Trump made it clear: if these companies do not comply, he will “deploy every tool in our arsenal to protect American families from continued abusive drug pricing practices.” In other words, brace yourselves, big pharma.
And it seems his message might be resonating:
- CNBC: “Under pressure from President Trump, AstraZeneca has taken steps to lower U.S. drug prices, with CEO [Sir] Pascal Soriot revealing proposed price cuts for certain medications.”
- Reuters: “British pharmaceutical giant GSK confirmed that it is in discussions with the Trump administration to find ways to reduce drug costs in the U.S., joining a growing list of companies responding to governmental pressure to control prices.”
Media coverage of President Trump’s correspondence has been widespread:
- CNBC: Trump gives drugmakers 60 days to slash prescription drug prices.
- The National News Desk: Trump demands lower prescription drug prices in letters to pharmaceutical companies.
- Reuters: Trump pressures 17 pharma CEOs to cut U.S. drug prices.
- The Hill: Trump demands pharma companies slash drug prices in the next 60 days.
- Fox Business: Trump sends letters to 17 pharmaceutical companies on reducing drug prices.
- The New York Times: Trump demands that drugmakers lower some of their U.S. prices by September.
- Axios: Trump gives major drugmakers 60 days to cut U.S. prices.
- Newsweek: Trump sets a deadline on drug price demand in a letter to companies.
- STAT News: Trump escalates demands that pharma companies lower their drug prices.
- Fox Business: Trump leveling the global medicine playing field.
- The Wall Street Journal: Trump sends letters to 17 pharmaceutical companies asking them to lower costs.
- The Washington Examiner: Trump threatens Big Pharma heads who don’t lower drug prices with ‘every tool in our arsenal.’
