The US administration has agreed Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) pricing arrangements with UCB and eight other manufacturers, extending a policy that increasingly connects US medicine prices with those negotiated in other developed countries. The latest agreements bring 26 manufacturers into the voluntary framework, which the White House says covers 89% of the US branded medicines market.
MFN pricing seeks to bring US medicine prices into line with the lowest prices available in comparable developed countries. Under the current framework, participating manufacturers provide state Medicaid programmes with MFN prices for existing products and make commitments concerning the pricing of future innovative medicines.
The 31 August agreements cover Alcon, Astellas Pharma, BeOne Medicines, BridgeBio, CSL, Kyowa Kirin, Sun Pharma, Teva Pharmaceuticals and Brussels-headquartered UCB.
UCB says it will take a ‘more balanced pricing approach’ to future medicine launches across developed nations and participate in the US Government’s GENEROUS programme. The specific pricing terms remain confidential. In return, UCB says its current products will be exempt from US Section 232 pharmaceutical tariffs and the company will not face future US pricing mandates.
The wider US policy gives the agreement particular significance for European pricing. The White House has stated that prospective MFN is intended to equalise international prices through a combination of lower US prices and higher prices in other wealthy markets. Lower European prices can therefore affect the commercial conditions available in the much larger US market.
The resulting incentives extend beyond individual price negotiations. Manufacturers may seek higher European net prices, resist reductions that could feed into US benchmarks, or reconsider launch timing in lower-priced markets. UCB's participation brings those pressures directly into the strategy of a major European-headquartered developer, although its confidential agreement does not disclose which countries or prices will determine future US comparisons.
Source: The White House
Link: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Announces Deal with Nine Additional Pharmaceutical Manufacturers to Lower Drug Prices for Americans
Date: 31 August 2026
Source: UCB
Link: UCB Comes to Agreement with U.S. Government to Lower the Cost of Medicine and Strengthen U.S. Manufacturing
Date: 31 August 2026
Source: The White House
Link: Savings from Most-Favored-Nation Drug Pricing Policy
Date: 5 May 2026
