Roche steps in as Trump aims for 1500% drug price cuts

Euractiv

6 days ago

'We're gonna get the drug prices down – not 30% or 40%. No, we're gonna get them down 1,000%, 1,500%,' said the US president. Euractiv is part of the Trust Project Thomas Mangin Euractiv Jul 24, 2025 15:17 2 min. read News
Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Amid a crusade against overpriced medicine, US President Donald Trump has promised to bring drug prices down by 1,500%. While the world still puzzles over his maths, the industry appears ready to offer solutions.
'We're gonna get the drug prices down – not 30% or 40%, which would be great. Not 50% or 60%. No, we're gonna get them down 1,000%, 600%, 500%, 1,500%,' said the US president at the White House on 22 July 22.
'Numbers that are not even thought to be achievable, because I've used a certain talent that I have,' he added.
The pharmaceutical industry remains one of President Trump's primary targets. In his first term, Trump vowed to lower drug prices – but with little effect. A study by the Rand Corporation estimated that in 2024, drug prices in the United States were 2.7 times higher than in the 32 other OECD countries.
The U.S. president continues to put pressure on big pharma groups and is pushing them to relocate to the United States, notably by threatening to impose tariffs of up to 200%.
Several European companies have announced massive investments across the Atlantic in recent months. On 22 July, AstraZeneca unveiled a $50 billion investment plan in the United States by 2030.
In April, Roche announced a similar investment for production as well as research and development in the U.S.
'We hope the U.S. government will see, through all the investments we and other companies are making, that pharmaceutical firms want to produce the medicines needed in the United States, for the United States,' said Schinecker. (bms, aw)