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President Trump Sends Letters to Big Pharma CEOs Demanding Immediate Action on Drug Prices
Karoline Leavitt reads letter to Eli Lilly CEO: “Relief must come now.”
Washington, D.C. — July 31, 2025
In a striking new push to lower prescription drug costs, President Donald J. Trump has sent formal letters to the CEOs of 17 major pharmaceutical companies, demanding immediate relief for American families burdened by skyrocketing drug prices.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered the news during Thursday’s daily press briefing, where she read aloud a letter addressed to Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks, and emphasized the president’s personal commitment to reforming the pharmaceutical pricing system in the United States.
“Moving forward, the only thing I will accept from drug manufacturers is a commitment that provides American families immediate relief from the vastly inflated drug prices,” President Trump wrote in the letter.
According to Leavitt, the letters follow an executive order signed earlier this year titled “Delivering Most-Favored-Nation Prescription Drug Pricing to American Patients”, which aims to stop what Trump has called “global freeloading”—a practice in which U.S. consumers subsidize lower drug prices in other countries.
“According to recent data, Americans are paying over three times what similarly developed nations pay for brand-name drugs,” Leavitt said. “The president is determined to solve this problem and took further action today.”
A Letter Campaign with Personal Touches
Leavitt revealed that the president signed and sent 17 letters to top pharmaceutical CEOs, and that all would be made available to the press. Copies are also being shared directly by Trump on TRUTH Social, his social media platform.
In the letter to Eli Lilly, Trump pressed for immediate engagement with his health policy team—specifically naming Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz—to begin implementing reforms “in good faith.”
“My team stands ready to work with you to deliver meaningful and swift action,” Trump wrote. “We expect your full cooperation and leadership to ensure American families no longer pay more than what patients in Europe or Canada pay for the exact same drugs.”
White House officials noted that many of the letters featured hand-edited names, with CEOs' last names crossed out and replaced with their first names, suggesting a personal tone from the president.
Targeted Companies Include Industry Giants
In addition to Eli Lilly, the following pharmaceutical companies received letters:
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AbbVie
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Boehringer Ingelheim
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Bristol Myers Squibb
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Novartis
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Gilead Sciences
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EMD Serono
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Pfizer
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Novo Nordisk
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AstraZeneca
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Amgen
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Genentech
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Johnson & Johnson
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GSK
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Merck
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Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
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Sanofi
Bipartisan Momentum, but Tough Stance
President Trump’s directive reflects growing bipartisan frustration with pharmaceutical pricing, but his strategy—mixing executive action with direct confrontation—underscores his distinct approach. Administration officials confirmed that the “Most-Favored-Nation” pricing model would cap U.S. drug prices at the lowest levels paid by other developed nations, marking a significant shift in drug pricing policy.
Leavitt also hinted that the White House is considering additional enforcement tools if the companies fail to comply or engage meaningfully.
“This administration will not stand by while Americans are gouged at the pharmacy counter,” she said. “President Trump has made it clear—either they deliver relief, or we deliver action.”
The president is expected to continue releasing updates and correspondence on TRUTH Social as the negotiations unfold.
FAQs: President Trump’s Prescription Drug Pricing Initiative (July 2025)
1. What action did President Trump take regarding drug prices?
On July 31, 2025, President Trump sent letters to the CEOs of 17 major pharmaceutical companies, demanding immediate relief from inflated prescription drug prices. The move follows a May 12 executive order titled “Delivering Most-Favored-Nation Prescription Drug Pricing to American Patients.”
2. What did the letters say?
In the letters, Trump stated:
“The only thing I will accept from drug manufacturers is a commitment that provides American families immediate relief from the vastly inflated drug prices.”
He urged the CEOs to engage immediately with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz to implement reforms.
3. Which pharmaceutical companies received letters?
The 17 companies are:
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Eli Lilly
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AbbVie
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Boehringer Ingelheim
-
Bristol Myers Squibb
-
Novartis
-
Gilead Sciences
-
EMD Serono
-
Pfizer
-
Novo Nordisk
-
AstraZeneca
-
Amgen
-
Genentech
-
Johnson & Johnson
-
GSK
-
Merck
-
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
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Sanofi
4. What is the “Most-Favored-Nation” Executive Order?
Signed on May 12, 2025, the order mandates that Americans should pay no more for prescription drugs than patients in other developed countries, effectively ending the global pricing gap. It seeks to stop what Trump calls “global freeloading,” where U.S. consumers subsidize lower drug costs abroad.
5. Why is this issue urgent?
According to recent data cited by the White House, Americans pay over three times more for brand-name drugs compared to similarly developed nations. This discrepancy has fueled public outcry and bipartisan concern over affordability and fairness.
6. What makes these letters unique?
Several letters featured a personal tone, with CEOs’ last names crossed out and replaced with first names, handwritten by President Trump himself. This signals a direct, personal appeal from the president to each executive.
7. Will the letters be made public?
Yes. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that copies of all 17 letters would be released to the press and that President Trump is also posting them individually on TRUTH Social, his social media platform.
8. What happens next?
The administration expects pharmaceutical companies to:
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Respond promptly to the letters
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Engage in discussions with HHS and CMS officials
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Begin implementing measures to lower prices
If companies fail to act, the administration may pursue additional executive or legal actions to enforce compliance.
9. How are Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz involved?
As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kennedy will lead the policy negotiation and implementation process. Dr. Oz, as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), will handle regulatory mechanisms to enforce the pricing changes.
10. Is this policy supported by data or economic models?
The White House has referenced OECD comparisons and domestic studies showing U.S. drug prices far exceed international averages. The “most-favored-nation” model has been debated for years and is now being formally enforced through executive authority.
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