Core Viewpoint - The article discusses President Trump's announcement to sign an executive order aimed at reducing prescription drug prices in the U.S. by 30% to 80%, implementing a "most favored nation" policy that aligns U.S. prices with the lowest prices paid in other countries [1][7]. Group 1: Drug Pricing in the U.S. - A report from RAND Healthcare indicates that in 2022, the average price of all drugs in the U.S. was 2.78 times higher than in 33 other OECD countries, with brand-name drugs being 4.22 times higher [3]. - The high drug prices in the U.S. are attributed to several factors, including the lack of government price controls and the absence of unified negotiation power in drug procurement [4]. - Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) play a role in managing drug prices but may incentivize higher drug costs due to their compensation structure [4]. Group 2: Pharmaceutical Companies' Justifications - Pharmaceutical companies argue that high U.S. drug prices reflect research and development costs, but this claim is contested, as many drugs are developed with government funding [5]. - A study shows that from 2010 to 2019, nearly all FDA-approved drugs were funded by the National Institutes of Health, challenging the narrative that companies solely bear R&D costs [5]. - Major pharmaceutical companies have spent more on stock buybacks and dividends than on R&D, indicating that profits are not fully reinvested into innovation [5]. Group 3: Impact on Consumers - High drug prices have led to significant issues for consumers, with over 9 million adults in the U.S. reportedly skipping doses or delaying refills due to costs [6]. - Brand-name drugs are often the most commonly discontinued medications due to their high prices and insurance authorization requirements [6]. Group 4: Political Context and Future Implications - Trump's proposal to link U.S. drug prices to those in other countries has garnered bipartisan support and is seen as a potential solution to high costs [7]. - Previous attempts to lower drug prices during Trump's first term faced strong resistance from the pharmaceutical industry, leading to limited progress [7][8]. - Trump's ongoing commitment to reducing drug prices and shifting manufacturing back to the U.S. aligns with his previous actions and campaign promises [9].
“降低30%至80%”,特朗普突然宣布降价!
第一财经·2025-05-12 09:45