Trump Administration Concludes 17th Drug Pricing Agreement with Regeneron and Reclassifies Medical Marijuana

Apr 24, 2026, 13:36

Introduction

President Donald Trump announced a drug pricing agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, completing a series of 17 deals with major pharmaceutical companies. Separately, the administration issued an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana under a less restrictive drug schedule.

Main Body

According to a White House fact sheet, the agreement with Regeneron includes a price reduction for the cholesterol drug Praluent from $537 to $225 for patients using the TrumpRx website. Furthermore, all future Regeneron medicines will follow Most Favored Nation pricing, which means their U.S. costs will match those in other countries. Regeneron also promised to invest $27 billion in drug development in the U.S. and announced FDA approval of Otarmeni, the first gene therapy under a new voucher program. This deal is the 17th and final one in a series that began in July 2025, when President Trump sent letters to 17 major pharmaceutical companies demanding lower prices. By the end of January 2026, 16 other companies, including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, and Novo Nordisk, had signed similar agreements. However, the specific terms of each deal remain private, and some may not be finalized yet. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. explained President Trump''s method of describing drug price reductions. During a Senate hearing, Kennedy stated that Trump uses a non-standard way to calculate percentage reductions. For example, reducing a drug''s price from $600 to $10 is described by Trump as a ''600 percent reduction.'' Kennedy acknowledged that this calculation does not follow conventional mathematical rules. In a separate policy action, the administration issued an executive order signed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. This order reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. The change does not legalize marijuana under federal law, but it changes its regulatory status. As a result, licensed medical marijuana operators can now claim a significant tax deduction, and barriers to cannabis research are reduced. This reclassification represents a notable shift in federal drug policy.

Conclusion

The Regeneron agreement ends the administration''s first round of drug pricing talks with major pharmaceutical companies. However, because the terms of the deals are confidential, their full effect remains unclear. The reclassification of medical marijuana is a significant change in federal regulatory policy, although it does not change the drug''s legal status. Both actions show ongoing efforts to address drug pricing and drug policy, but details about how they will be put into practice are still emerging.

Vocabulary Learning

barriers
Obstacles or impediments that prevent progress or access.障礙
Example:Barriers to cannabis research are reduced.
price reduction
A decrease in the cost of something.價格降低
Example:The agreement with Regeneron includes a price reduction for the cholesterol drug Praluent.
put into practice
To implement or carry out a plan, idea, or policy.付諸實踐
Example:Details about how they will be put into practice are still emerging.
reclassification
The act of changing something to a different category or class.重新分類
Example:The reclassification of medical marijuana is a significant change in federal regulatory policy.
tax deduction
An amount that can be subtracted from taxable income to reduce the tax owed.稅務扣除
Example:Licensed medical marijuana operators can now claim a significant tax deduction.

Sentence Learning

Furthermore, all future Regeneron medicines will follow Most Favored Nation pricing, which means their U.S. costs will match those in other countries.
This sentence uses a non-defining relative clause ('which means...') to add extra information about the pricing policy. The clause is set off by a comma and explains the consequence.呢句句子用咗非限定性關係從句（'which means...'）嚟補充關於定價政策嘅額外資訊。從句用逗號分隔，解釋咗後果。
This deal is the 17th and final one in a series that began in July 2025, when President Trump sent letters to 17 major pharmaceutical companies demanding lower prices.
This sentence contains a defining relative clause ('that began in July 2025') to identify the series, and a time clause ('when...') to specify the starting event. The structure organizes the timeline clearly.呢句句子包含一個限定性關係從句（'that began in July 2025'）嚟指明係邊個系列，同一個時間從句（'when...'）嚟具體說明開始嘅事件。呢個結構清楚噉組織咗時間線。
However, the specific terms of each deal remain private, and some may not be finalized yet.
The linking word 'However' introduces a contrast to the previous positive information. The sentence uses simple present and modal verbs to express current uncertainty.連接詞'However'引入咗同前面正面資訊嘅對比。句子用簡單現在式同情態動詞表達目前嘅不確定性。
As a result, licensed medical marijuana operators can now claim a significant tax deduction, and barriers to cannabis research are reduced.
The linking phrase 'As a result' shows cause and effect. The second clause uses the passive voice ('are reduced') to focus on the action rather than the agent.連接短語'As a result'顯示因果關係。第二個分句用被動語態（'are reduced'）嚟強調動作本身而唔係執行者。
The reclassification of medical marijuana is a significant change in federal regulatory policy, although it does not change the drug's legal status.
The linking word 'although' introduces a contrast between the significance of the policy change and the fact that legal status remains unchanged. This helps present a balanced view.連接詞'although'引入咗政策改變嘅重要性同法律地位不變呢兩者之間嘅對比。咁樣有助於呈現一個平衡嘅觀點。