Roche says Trump's drug price order threatens its $50 billion US investment plans

Original from: Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order on drug pricing threatens Roche's (ROG.S), opens new tab planned $50 billion investment in the United States, the company said on Wednesday.

Trump's order, signed on Monday, directs drugmakers to lower prices of brand-name medicines to align with those in other wealthy nations. Analysts and legal experts say the policy would be difficult to implement.

"Should the proposed EO (Executive Order) go into effect, Roche's ability to fund the significant investments previously announced in the U.S. will be in question," the company said in a statement.

Roche said it did not expect the executive order to affect its business in 2025, and said it would continue engaging with the Trump administration and Congress.

Roche in April announced it would invest $50 billion in the U.S. over the next five years, creating more than 12,000 jobs.

It is among several drugmakers, including Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, and Novartis, to announce large-scale U.S. investments in response to Trump's push to onshore pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Novartis, another Switzerland-based big pharma company, said on Wednesday it had no plans to alter its U.S. investment strategy in response to the executive order.

Source: Roche says Trump's drug price order threatens its $50 billion US investment plans