The September 29th Deadline Is Slipping: What Pharma Teams Need to Know Now

The bumpy road to drug pricing reform continues as the US Most Favored Nation deadline of September 29th faces delays. Regulatory complexities, competing healthcare priorities like the Strategic API Reserve, and election year politics are all contributing factors that may push implementation into 2024 or beyond.

• MFN model would force Medicare to pay the lowest drug prices available in other economically comparable countries
• Americans currently pay nearly 250% more for medications than citizens in 32 other developed nations
• Pharma manufacturers argue pricing parity could disincentivize R&D and reduce availability of breakthrough treatments
• Regulatory delays announced as the proposal must pass through review and public comment periods
• New Strategic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Reserve initiative may be drawing legislative focus away from pricing reform
• 70% of API manufacturing occurs overseas, mainly in India and China
• Election year politics may prefer to defer enforcement while using the MFN narrative for campaign momentum
• International reference pricing likely to become more common in US payer negotiations
• Digital companions and patient support platforms that demonstrate improved outcomes will be crucial for showing value
• Commercial teams should prepare contingency plans rather than waiting for formal announcements

If you found this conversation valuable, please follow or subscribe for more insights at the intersection of pharma, tech, and patient impact.

PostScripts Rx is not intended to constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to influence prescribing decisions or any other medical or clinical decision-making. All medical and clinical judgment and decision-making, prescribing decisions, and all related considerations remain exclusively the responsibility of providers and patients.