Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the significant price disparity of prescription drugs in the U.S. compared to other developed countries, leading to new policies aimed at price control and the potential impact on multinational pharmaceutical companies and emerging markets [1][2]. Group 1: U.S. Drug Pricing Policies - U.S. prescription drug prices are 2-3 times higher than those in other developed countries, with some innovative drugs priced at 10 times higher than in China [1] - New policies require pharmaceutical companies to provide "most favored nation pricing" to U.S. Medicare, sign contracts for price locking, renegotiate overseas prices to "repatriate profits," and promote direct sales for price transparency [1][2] - The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) criticized these policies, claiming they would undermine U.S. innovation [1][2] Group 2: Multinational Pharmaceutical Companies' Strategies - Companies like Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Merck are adopting multi-faceted strategies to balance profits and compliance, including adjusting global pricing strategies [3] - Some companies are lowering prices in the U.S. while increasing prices in other markets to maintain profit margins, with AstraZeneca already announcing price reductions for certain drugs in the U.S. [3][4] - To offset profit losses, companies may raise prices in emerging markets like China, where the annual treatment cost for PD-1 drugs is approximately 1.16 million yuan, ten times higher than in China [4] Group 3: Cost Optimization Strategies - Cost reduction is a core objective, leveraging China's low-cost advantages, where biopharmaceutical R&D costs are 1/5 to 1/10 of those in the U.S. [5] - Pfizer has signed over $1 billion in CDMO orders with Chinese companies to transfer some biopharmaceutical production to China, reducing production costs by 30% [5][6] - Companies are also transferring non-core technologies to China to avoid tariffs and lower costs, such as Pfizer's collaboration with Chinese firms to establish PD-1 production bases [6][7] Group 4: Legal and Policy Maneuvering - Industry associations and pharmaceutical companies are using legal and political avenues to resist new policies, with PhRMA planning to appeal to the WTO regarding the "most favored nation pricing" requirement [10] - They are lobbying Congress, arguing that foreign price controls could reduce U.S. R&D investment by $10 billion annually [10] Group 5: Opportunities and Challenges for Chinese Companies - Chinese companies are positioned to benefit from accelerated domestic substitution, with local biosimilars gaining price advantages [11] - CDMO businesses are expanding, with WuXi Biologics reporting a 144% year-on-year increase in CDMO revenue in the first half of 2025 [12] - Chinese pharmaceutical companies are also achieving breakthroughs in international markets through licensing agreements, with total upfront payments reaching $2.329 billion in the first half of 2025 [13] Group 6: Beneficiary Companies - Companies in the biosimilar sector, such as Innovent Biologics and Antengene, are expected to gain market share as multinational firms raise prices in China [16] - WuXi Biologics is recognized as a leading global CDMO, while other companies like Eastone and Hengrui are also expanding their CDMO projects [17] - Chinese firms that have established production facilities in India and Southeast Asia, like Huahai Pharmaceutical, are likely to benefit from reduced reliance on the U.S. market [19]