Core Insights - AstraZeneca (AZN) has signed a significant agreement with the Trump administration to reduce drug prices in the U.S., following a similar deal by Pfizer [1][8] - The agreement aligns with President Trump's Most Favored Nation (MFN) pricing proposal, allowing AstraZeneca to offer discounts of up to 80% on its prescription drugs [2][8] - In exchange for price reductions, AstraZeneca will receive a three-year exemption from import tariffs on pharmaceutical ingredients, contingent upon expanding its U.S. manufacturing [3][8] Investment and Manufacturing Plans - AstraZeneca plans to invest $50 billion over the next five years to enhance its U.S. research and production capabilities, including a $4.5 billion manufacturing facility in Virginia [3][4][8] - The new facility will focus on drug substances for weight management, metabolic therapies, and antibody drug conjugate (ADC) cancer drugs [4] Industry Context - The agreements with AstraZeneca and Pfizer address major concerns in the pharmaceutical sector regarding drug pricing and tariffs, potentially easing regulatory pressures [7] - Other large-cap pharmaceutical companies, such as AbbVie, Eli Lilly, and Johnson & Johnson, are also committing significant investments to U.S. manufacturing and R&D [9][10][11][12] - AstraZeneca's stock has increased by 29% year-to-date, outperforming the industry average rise of 7% [5]