Hua Xia Shi Bao·2025-08-03 00:25Group 1 - Trump issued a "last ultimatum" to 17 major pharmaceutical companies, demanding written commitments for price reductions within 60 days, or the government would take necessary actions to protect American families from high drug prices [1][2] - Pharmaceutical companies responded cautiously, with Pfizer emphasizing its patient assistance programs but not committing to broad price cuts, while Merck avoided discussing price reductions for established drugs [2][3] - The average price of prescription drugs in the U.S. is approximately 2.56 times higher than in other OECD countries, with some innovative drugs being up to 10 times more expensive [5] Group 2 - The U.S. pharmaceutical market is characterized by high drug prices, with median launch prices increasing from $2,115 in 2008 to $180,007 in 2021, a nearly 90-fold increase [4] - The complexity of the reimbursement system, including the roles of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and insurance companies, is cited as a significant factor driving up patient costs [5][6] - Trump's actions reflect ongoing tensions in the U.S. healthcare system, where the balance between incentivizing pharmaceutical innovation and ensuring patient access remains a critical challenge [6][7] Group 3 - The potential for a "drug price reduction wave" could significantly impact large multinational pharmaceutical companies, altering the pricing logic for innovative drugs and those under patent protection [3][8] - The pharmaceutical industry faces immense political and public pressure, which may lead to limited price reductions for specific drugs, but systemic reforms are necessary for lasting change [6][9] - A 10% decrease in drug prices could result in a 17% reduction in R&D spending by companies, indicating that price control measures may negatively affect future drug development [9][10]