Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-07-31 22:13Core Viewpoint - President Trump has issued an ultimatum to 17 pharmaceutical companies, demanding significant reductions in drug prices within 60 days, threatening to use all available tools to protect American families from high drug pricing practices [1][5][6] Group 1: Ultimatum Details - The letter was sent to major pharmaceutical companies including Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Regeneron, Merck, and Novo Nordisk [1] - If companies do not comply by September 29, Trump will take action to address the issue [1] - The announcement led to a sell-off in the pharmaceutical sector, with stock prices of GlaxoSmithKline and Merck dropping over 4%, and Sanofi's stock falling more than 7% [1] Group 2: Previous Policies - In May, Trump signed an executive order reinstating a controversial "Most Favored Nation" policy aimed at linking U.S. drug prices to significantly lower prices in other countries [3] Group 3: Specific Demands - Trump outlined specific steps for companies to take, including: - Full implementation of "Most Favored Nation" pricing, requiring pharmaceutical companies to offer their entire drug portfolio at the lowest prices available in other developed countries to all Medicare patients [7] - Locking in new drug prices by requiring companies to contract with the U.S. government to ensure "Most Favored Nation" pricing for all new drugs [8] - Pressuring foreign markets to negotiate harder with what he termed "foreign freeloading countries" [8] - Bypassing intermediaries by adopting a direct-to-consumer sales model to ensure all Americans receive the same "Most Favored Nation" pricing [8] Group 4: Industry Response - AstraZeneca has reportedly proposed lowering some drug prices in the U.S. and is considering direct sales to patients [8] - Companies like Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, and Bristol-Myers Squibb have also adopted direct-to-consumer sales models in response to the affordability crisis faced by American patients [8]