Mr. Trump signed an agreement with AstraZeneca Pharmaceutical Company: Reducing drug prices in exchange for tax exemption

In an effort to reduce record-high prescription drug prices in the US, President Trump signed a deal with British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, ensuring Americans will receive the lowest prices in the world for some drugs.

Mr. Trump in the Oval Office on October 10 to announce a drug price reduction agreement with AstraZeneca - Photo: REUTERS

Bloomberg news agency reported on October 11 that US President Donald Trump has just announced an important agreement with British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca Plc, according to which the company will reduce the price of some drugs for US consumers in exchange for a three-year tariff exemption.

This is the second major deal between the White House and a pharmaceutical company aimed at reducing health care costs for Americans, following a similar agreement with Pfizer Inc.

"AstraZeneca, the United Kingdom's largest pharmaceutical manufacturer, is committed to providing Americans with significant discounts on its vast portfolio of prescription drugs," President Trump said in the Oval Office, flanked by AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot.

Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will sell all new drugs in the US at the lowest prices compared to other developed countries, and will also provide drugs to the Medicaid program for low-income people and people with disabilities at preferential prices.

"Americans will pay the lowest prices in the world ," Mr. Trump stressed.

The British pharmaceutical company will also expand the number of products sold directly through the AstraZeneca Direct website at heavily discounted prices, and will also bring these products to its direct-to-American drug sales platform - TrumpRx - when the website officially goes live.

This is the next step in a series of voluntary measures that pharmaceutical companies are taking to avoid more drastic measures from the Washington government.

Previously, the White House owner sent a letter to 17 of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, asking them to reduce drug prices for the Medicaid program, sell discounted drugs directly to patients, and bring newly approved drugs to the US market at prices comparable to other developed countries.

The deal with AstraZeneca is also expected to encourage other pharmaceutical companies to join the talks.

Drugs slated for price cuts under the deal include AirSupra, Farxiga and COPD drug Bevespi. Farxiga, AstraZeneca’s top-selling drug last year with sales of $7.7 billion, will continue to see price cuts under the Medicare 2026 drug price negotiations.

CEO Pascal Soriot speaks after the agreement between AstraZeneca and the US was announced - Photo: REUTERS

President Trump also called on pharmaceutical companies to produce more drugs domestically, and launched an investigation into whether the lack of domestic production could be a national security threat.

Americans now pay some of the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs, often nearly three times higher than in other developed countries.

Mr Trump has pressured drug companies to reduce drug prices to levels paid by patients in other countries or face severe tariffs.

Last month, after previous talks failed, Mr. Trump also threatened to impose a 100% tax on the pharmaceutical industry, in an attempt to push companies to cut prices and move production to the United States.

HA DAO

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ong-trump-ky-thoa-thuan-voi-hang-duoc-astrazeneca-giam-gia-thuoc-doi-mien-thue-20251011061855932.htm