Nine drugmakers strike deals with Trump, with more to come

Core Points - US President Donald Trump announced agreements with nine pharmaceutical companies aimed at lowering drug prices for Americans in exchange for a three-year delay on threatened tariffs [1][2] - A total of 14 out of 17 targeted drugmakers have agreed to lower prices for the Medicaid program, sell discounted drugs directly to consumers, and align US drug prices with those abroad [2][3] - Companies such as Roche, Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, and others have negotiated agreements, while AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson, and Regeneron are still in talks [3][4] Drug Pricing Agreements - Bristol-Myers Squibb will provide its blood-thinner Eliquis for free to the Medicaid program, and Gilead will reduce the price of its hepatitis C drug Epclusa to under $2,500 [7] - Many medications highlighted by the administration are already available at discounted prices through patient assistance programs or have cheaper generic alternatives [8] Insurance Industry Impact - Trump's announcements led to declines in health insurance stocks, including UnitedHealth Group, Elevance Health, and CVS Health [10] - The insurance industry trade group AHIP stated that premiums reflect medical care costs and welcomed discussions on cost reduction [10][11] Manufacturing and Supply Chain - Companies like Merck, Bristol-Myers, and GSK agreed to donate six months' worth of raw drug materials to a national stockpile and commit to manufacturing finished medicines in emergencies [12] Political and Regulatory Context - Democrats are seeking more transparency regarding the potential savings from these tariff relief deals, as the agreements remain confidential [13]