President Trump’s Executive Order Aims to Lower Prescription Drug Prices

Following President Donald Trump’s recent executive order announced on a Monday, the focus has shifted toward prescription drug costs in the United States and potential savings for American consumers. The order introduces a “most favored nations drug pricing” policy, which aims to set U.S. drug prices at the lowest rates available in other developed countries.

In Trump’s words, “Some prescription drug and pharmaceutical prices will be reduced almost immediately by 50 to 80 to 90%.”

Expert Opinions on the Order

Katy Dubinsky, a pharmacist from New York and CEO of Vitalize, commended the effort to lower prescription prices, stating that it addresses an ongoing issue. However, she noted, “The executive order doesn’t reduce costs immediately. It directs government agencies to start drafting the rules, which may take months.”

Most Expensive Prescription Drugs in the U.S.

Dubinsky identified the following as the five most expensive prescription medications currently available, detailing their uses and costs:

1. Lenmeldy (atidarsagene autotemcel) by Orchard Therapeutics — $4.25 million: Used to treat metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system. Administered as a single treatment, it aims to halt or slow the progression of the disease in young children.
2. Hemgenix (etranacogene dezaparvovec-drlb) by CSL Behring — $3.5 million: Designed for individuals with hemophilia B, this one-time therapy enables the body to produce its own clotting factor, eliminating the need for regular infusions.
3. Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl) by Sarepta Therapeutics — $3.2 million: This medication treats Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), primarily seen in young boys, aiming to slow disease progression.
4. Skysona (elivaldogene autotemcel) by Bluebird Bio — $3 million: This therapy is applied for cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CALD), a severe brain disease found in boys, intended to slow down the damage before symptoms escalate.
5. Zynteglo (betibeglogene autotemcel) by Bluebird Bio — $2.8 million: Targeted at beta-thalassemia, a blood disorder often requiring frequent transfusions, this gene therapy enables patients to produce healthy red blood cells independently, thereby reducing treatment frequency.

Most Expensive Drugs by Sales Volume

John Stanford, executive director of Incubate, highlighted the drugs with the highest sales volumes, illustrating their significance in the market:

1. Keytruda (pembrolizumab) by Merck — $25 billion: This immunotherapy treats various cancers including melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.
2. Eliquis (apixaban) by Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer — $18.95 billion: Prescribed for blood clot prevention and treatment, this drug is vital for managing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
3. Ozempic (semaglutide) by Novo Nordisk — $13.93 billion: Initially designed for type 2 diabetes, it has gained attention for its weight-loss benefits.
4. Humira by AbbVie — $14.4 billion: This injectable medication for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions has historically been one of the highest-grossing drugs.
5. Biktarvy by Gilead — $11.85 billion: An HIV treatment that has contributed significantly to Gilead’s cancer research funding.

Potential Impacts of the Executive Order

Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, indicated that certain categories, such as vaccines and most generic medications, may not be significantly affected by the executive order. Generic drugs typically cost less than a dollar per pill, and most vaccines are priced below one hundred dollars.

However, newer brand-name drugs that hold intellectual property exclusivity, alongside advanced therapies like antibody and gene treatments, could see their prices adjusted. These medications are often extremely costly, sometimes ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 for a treatment course.

Concerns Regarding Drug Innovation

Glanville expressed concerns that imposing price caps could deter investment in innovative drug development. He emphasized that the pharmaceutical industry might argue that high prices are necessary to fund new breakthroughs. Furthermore, he noted that once patents expire, drug prices generally decrease as generics enter the market.

“If the prices of new medicines are capped, then effort should be made to reduce the cost of clinical trials and drug GMP manufacturing. Otherwise, we will lose a lot of innovation,” he added.

Conclusion

As the ramifications of President Trump’s executive order unfold, stakeholders—including patients, healthcare providers, and pharmaceutical firms—will be closely watching how these proposed changes affect prescription drug pricing across the United States.