AstraZeneca reaches deal on drug prices with President Trump : Shots

AstraZeneca Strikes Landmark Drug Pricing Deal with President Trump


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AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot greets President Trump in the Oval Office while Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. looks on.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

AstraZeneca has become the second pharmaceutical company to finalize an agreement with the Trump administration aimed at reducing drug costs for Medicaid recipients and offering discounted medications through TrumpRx, a government platform designed to facilitate direct-to-consumer drug purchases.

During a press briefing in the Oval Office, President Trump emphasized, “This ensures the lowest drug prices globally.” Central to this agreement is the implementation of most-favored-nation pricing for Medicaid, which aligns the prices paid by Medicaid with the more affordable rates found in other advanced economies.

As part of the agreement, AstraZeneca will provide discounts of up to 80% off the list price for certain medications sold directly to consumers, according to a company announcement. This includes treatments such as Bevespi Aerosphere, an inhaler for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and Airsupra, designed for asthma patients. The UK-based pharmaceutical firm also pledged to increase its manufacturing and research operations within the United States.

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In exchange for these commitments, AstraZeneca will receive a three-year waiver from specific tariffs.

The White House introduced the TrumpRx initiative alongside a similar agreement with Pfizer on September 30. This online platform aims to help patients obtain medications at reduced prices by bypassing traditional health insurance channels.

TrumpRx is part of a larger strategy by the administration to harmonize drug prices in the U.S. with those paid in other developed nations.

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This announcement follows an executive order issued in May and a series of letters sent to 17 pharmaceutical companies over the summer, encouraging voluntary price reductions.

The TrumpRx website is anticipated to launch in 2026, directing consumers to pharmaceutical companies’ direct sales portals to complete their purchases.

The actual benefits of these agreements for consumers remain uncertain. Medicaid beneficiaries already enjoy some of the lowest drug prices, and insured individuals might find their copayments more affordable than purchasing medications directly from AstraZeneca.

Additionally, AstraZeneca revealed plans on Thursday to invest an extra $500 million in a new manufacturing plant in Virginia, bringing its total investment in U.S. facilities to $4.5 billion. This is part of a broader $50 billion commitment announced in July to expand production sites across California, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas, and Virginia, alongside increased research and development efforts.

“To all pharmaceutical companies – we’re calling on you to step up and contribute,” stated Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, during the press event.

President Trump also claimed that his administration has secured $18 trillion in commitments to bring pharmaceutical manufacturing back to the U.S., though this figure has not been independently verified.


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