Regeneron Strikes Final Drug Pricing Deal with White House, Offers Free Gene Therapy for Rare Hearing Loss

RegeneronSearch company Pharmaceuticals has become the final company among 17 major drugmakers to reach a pricing agreement with the Trump administration, concluding a yearlong pressure campaign aimed at reducing pharmaceutical costs through the "Most Favored Nation" initiative.

The deal, announced Thursday at the White HouseSearch company, requires RegeneronSearch company to reduce Medicaid prices for all current and future medications. The company has also agreed to sell PraluentSearch drug, a drug used to lower cholesterol, for $225 through President Trump's TrumpRx discount portal, which connects Americans to discounts on certain drugs.

Gene Therapy Breakthrough for Rare Hearing Loss

A significant component of the agreement involves RegeneronSearch company's newest drug, OtarmeniSearch drug, a gene therapy for children with a rare type of congenital hearing lossSearch disease. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the treatment under its expedited Commissioner's National Priority Voucher program, following fast-track designation last year.

RegeneronSearch company will provide OtarmeniSearch drug free of charge to all clinically eligible individuals in the United States. The Oval Office announcement featured a mother whose child used the drug and successfully regained their hearing, highlighting the therapy's clinical impact.

Manufacturing Investment and Economic Impact

As part of the agreement, RegeneronSearch company has committed nearly $10 billion in spending to boost domestic manufacturing capabilities and bring pharmaceutical production to the United States. This investment aligns with the administration's broader strategy of offering tariff relief to companies that make such manufacturing commitments.

The deal follows a pattern established with other pharmaceutical companies since September, when Trump began regularly hosting executives in the Oval Office to highlight pricing agreements. The initiative stems from letters Trump sent last July to 17 major pharmaceutical companies, demanding they match the lowest drug prices paid by other developed nations.

Limited Impact on Broader Drug Pricing

Critics have noted potential limitations in the deals' overall impact on drug costs. Medicaid already pays significantly less for drugs than Medicare and private insurers, which are not included in these agreements. Many of the drugs featured on TrumpRx were already available at discounted prices, and some participating companies increased prices on January 1 despite their agreements.

The deals were primarily brokered by Chris Klomp, head of Medicare, who was recently appointed to provide stability at the Department of Health and Human Services ahead of midterm elections. Democrats in Congress have pressed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to disclose the terms of the pharmaceutical deals, but Kennedy has declined, citing proprietary information and trade secrets.

Regeneron's Product Portfolio

RegeneronSearch company's best-selling drug is DupixentSearch drug, an injectable treatment for severe eczemaSearch disease and various autoimmune conditionsSearch disease. The company's other leading products include EyleaSearch drug for macular degenerationSearch disease and KevzaraSearch drug for rheumatoid arthritisSearch disease. Unlike some larger pharmaceutical companies that negotiated similar deals, Regeneron's smaller product portfolio means discounting could have a more significant financial impact on the company.

The agreement comes as Trump has made drug pricing a central component of his domestic policy agenda, with the administration seeking to provide economic relief as Americans face high costs for healthcare and other basic needs. Trump has urged Congress to pass legislation requiring drugmakers to use "Most Favored Nation" pricing in government insurance programs.