Trump Issues Draft Guidance for Third Cycle of US Drug Price Talks

The Trump administration has issued draft guidance to enhance transparency for the third cycle of the drug price negotiation program, a Biden-era initiative empowering Medicare to negotiate prices for costly, widely used drugs. Meanwhile, President Trump's recent executive order aimed at lowering drug prices through broad, cross-agency actions has drawn mixed reactions: pharmaceutical industry leaders expressed uncertainty due to a lack of detailed implementation instructions, leading to fluctuating stock prices. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. praised the executive order as a historic step fulfilling promises long made by Democratic leaders but never acted upon, highlighting the influence of pharmaceutical lobbyists in Washington. The order introduces a "most favored nation" policy, aligning U.S. drug prices with the lowest prices paid globally, which Trump asserts will ensure fairness and savings for American patients. Despite the positive framing by RFK Jr., experts describe the order as largely symbolic without concrete directives for enforcement. Together, these developments reflect ongoing efforts and challenges in the U.S. to address prescription drug costs through legislative and executive measures.