Pharmaceutical Industry Faces U.S. Pricing Pressure Amid Policy Reforms

President Trump has intensified pressure on pharmaceutical companies to reduce drug prices and increase domestic manufacturing by threatening 100% tariffs on branded drug imports starting October 1, unless companies comply with price cut demands and manufacturing shifts. Pfizer responded by agreeing to lower drug prices for Medicaid patients and invest $70 billion in U.S. manufacturing, setting a precedent that may compel other drugmakers to follow suit. The administration's push includes promoting "most favored nation" pricing and expanding direct-to-consumer platforms to bypass intermediaries like pharmacy benefit managers, aiming to reduce costs for American patients. Meanwhile, Poland plans to amend its civil procedure code to enhance patent litigation rules, removing rigid deadlines for injunction requests and balancing intellectual property protection with access to generics, reflecting ongoing global shifts in pharmaceutical regulation. These developments underscore a broader effort, led by the Trump administration, to address drug pricing through both domestic policy and international influence, while pharmaceutical companies navigate regulatory and market pressures.