Trump''s team makes a deal with a drug company and changes rules for medical marijuana (CEFR Compare)

Apr 24, 2026, 13:36

Trump''s team makes a deal with a drug company and changes rules for medical marijuana

Introduction

President Trump said his team made a deal with a drug company called Regeneron. This is the 17th deal. Also, the government changed the rules for medical marijuana.

Main Body

The deal with Regeneron says the price of a drug called Praluent will go down. It was $537. Now it is $225. People can buy it on the TrumpRx website. In the future, Regeneron must sell its drugs in the US for the same low price as in other countries. Regeneron will also spend $27 billion to make new drugs in the US. The FDA said yes to a new medicine called Otarmeni. It is the first medicine of its kind. This is the 17th deal. Before this, 16 other drug companies made similar deals. These companies include Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and others. The details of each deal are secret. Some deals are not finished yet. A man named Kennedy explained how President Trump talks about price cuts. Kennedy said Trump uses a different way to count. For example, if a drug costs $600 and then costs $10, Trump says it is a 600% cut. But that is not normal math. In a different action, the government changed the rules for medical marijuana. It moved medical marijuana from a strict group to a less strict group. This does not make it legal under federal law. But it gives a tax break to people who sell medical marijuana. It also makes it easier to study marijuana.

Conclusion

This deal ends the first group of talks with big drug companies. But we do not know the full effect because the deals are secret. The new rules for medical marijuana are a big change, but it is still not legal under federal law. These actions show the government is trying to change drug prices and drug rules.

Vocabulary Learning

change

To make something different.改變

Example:The government changed the rules.

deal

An agreement between people or companies.協議

Example:The company made a deal to lower the price.

price

The amount of money you pay for something.價格

Example:The price of the drug went down.

rule

A statement that tells you what you can or cannot do.規則

Example:There are new rules for medical marijuana.

sell

To give something to someone for money.賣

Example:The company sells drugs in the US.

Sentence Learning

President Trump said his team made a deal with a drug company called Regeneron.

This sentence uses the past tense verbs 'said' and 'made' to talk about something that happened. The phrase 'called Regeneron' gives more information about the drug company.本句使用過去式動詞'said'和'made'來談論已發生的事情。短語'called Regeneron'提供了關於該藥品公司的更多信息。

The deal with Regeneron says the price of a drug called Praluent will go down.

This sentence uses the present tense verb 'says' to state a fact. The phrase 'will go down' uses the future tense to talk about a future change in price.本句使用現在式動詞'says'來陳述一個事實。短語'will go down'使用未來式來談論價格的未來變化。

Now it is $225.

This is a simple present tense sentence. 'Now' tells us the current time, and 'it' refers to the price. The verb 'is' shows the current state.這是一個簡單的現在式句子。'Now'告訴我們當前時間，'it'指的是價格。動詞'is'表示當前狀態。

The FDA said yes to a new medicine called Otarmeni.

This sentence uses the past tense verb 'said' and the phrase 'said yes' means approved. 'Called Otarmeni' describes the medicine.本句使用過去式動詞'said'，短語'said yes'表示批准。'Called Otarmeni'描述了該藥物。

The government changed the rules for medical marijuana.

This sentence uses the past tense verb 'changed' to describe an action that happened. 'For medical marijuana' tells us which rules were changed.本句使用過去式動詞'changed'來描述已發生的動作。'For medical marijuana'告訴我們哪些規則被更改了。

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

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。

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

Introduction

Main Body

The agreement with Regeneron, as detailed in a White House fact sheet, includes a reduction in the price of the cholesterol-lowering treatment Praluent to $225 from $537 for patients purchasing through the TrumpRx website. Additionally, all future Regeneron medicines will be subject to Most Favored Nation (MFN) pricing, aligning their U.S. costs with those in other countries. Regeneron also committed to investing $27 billion in drug development within the United States and announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had approved Otarmeni, the first gene therapy authorized under the agency’s new National Priority Voucher program. This agreement represents the 17th and final deal in a series initiated by the White House in July 2025, when President Trump sent letters to 17 major pharmaceutical companies demanding lower drug prices. By the end of January 2026, 16 other companies—including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and others—had signed similar agreements. The specific terms of each deal remain private, and some may not yet be finalized. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. provided an explanation for President Trump’s characterization of drug price reductions. During a Senate hearing, Kennedy stated that Trump uses a non-standard method of calculating percentage reductions. He cited an example: reducing a $600 drug to $10 is described by Trump as a “600 percent reduction,” a calculation that Kennedy acknowledged departs from conventional mathematical norms. In a separate policy action, the administration issued an executive order signed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. This change does not legalize marijuana under federal law but alters its regulatory status, granting licensed medical marijuana operators a significant tax deduction and reducing barriers to cannabis research. The reclassification represents a notable shift in federal drug policy.

Conclusion

The Regeneron agreement concludes the administration’s initial round of drug pricing negotiations with major pharmaceutical companies, though the confidentiality of the deals leaves their full impact uncertain. The reclassification of medical marijuana marks a substantive change in federal regulatory approach without altering its legal status. Both measures reflect ongoing efforts to address drug pricing and drug policy, with implementation details still emerging.

Vocabulary Learning

characterization

The description or portrayal of the qualities or features of someone or something; often a subjective interpretation.描述：對某人或某事物的特質或特徵的描述或描繪；常帶有主觀解釋。

Example:Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. provided an explanation for President Trump’s characterization of drug price reductions.

departs

To deviate or stray from a standard, norm, or expected course of action.偏離：脫離標準、規範或預期行動路線。

Example:a calculation that Kennedy acknowledged departs from conventional mathematical norms.

Most Favored Nation

A trade policy principle that requires a country to grant any trade advantages or privileges it gives to one trading partner to all other trading partners; in this context, applied to drug pricing to align U.S. costs with those in other countries.最惠國待遇：一項貿易政策原則，要求一國給予某一貿易夥伴的任何貿易優惠或特權，也必須給予所有其他貿易夥伴；在此語境下應用於藥品定價，使美國成本與其他國家一致。

Example:all future Regeneron medicines will be subject to Most Favored Nation (MFN) pricing, aligning their U.S. costs with those in other countries.

reclassification

The act of assigning a new classification or category, especially under the Controlled Substances Act, changing a substance's legal schedule.重新分類：指賦予新的分類或類別，尤其在《管制物質法》下改變物質的法律附表。

Example:the administration issued an executive order ... that reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III.

substantive

Having real importance, value, or meaning; significant and not merely procedural.實質性的：具有真正的重要性、價值或意義；重要的，不僅是程序性的。

Example:The reclassification of medical marijuana marks a substantive change in federal regulatory approach.

Sentence Learning

Main clause: 'The agreement ... includes a reduction'. Parenthetical reduced adverbial clause: 'as detailed in a White House fact sheet' (elliptical for 'as it is detailed'). Reduced relative clause: 'for patients purchasing through the TrumpRx website' (reduced from 'who purchase'). High lexical density with compound noun phrases.主句：「The agreement ... includes a reduction」。插入式縮略副詞子句：「as detailed in a White House fact sheet」（省略了「as it is detailed」）。縮略關係子句：「for patients purchasing through the TrumpRx website」（由「who purchase」縮略而成）。詞彙密度高，包含複合名詞短語。

Additionally, all future Regeneron medicines will be subject to Most Favored Nation (MFN) pricing, aligning their U.S. costs with those in other countries.

Main clause: 'all future Regeneron medicines will be subject to ... pricing'. Present participle phrase: 'aligning their U.S. costs with those in other countries' functions as a resultative adjunct, indicating the consequence of the main clause. Use of 'those' as a pronoun to avoid repetition.主句：「all future Regeneron medicines will be subject to ... pricing」。現在分詞短語：「aligning their U.S. costs with those in other countries」作為結果狀語，表示主句的結果。使用代詞「those」避免重複。

Regeneron also committed to investing $27 billion in drug development within the United States and announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had approved Otarmeni, the first gene therapy authorized under the agency’s new National Priority Voucher program.

Compound main clause with two coordinated verbs: 'committed to investing ... and announced'. The second verb takes a 'that'-clause as object: 'that the FDA had approved Otarmeni'. Appositive noun phrase: 'the first gene therapy authorized under ... program', containing a reduced relative clause 'authorized under ...'. Complex structure with multiple levels of embedding.複合主句包含兩個並列動詞：「committed to investing ... and announced」。第二個動詞帶有「that」子句作賓語：「that the FDA had approved Otarmeni」。同位語名詞短語：「the first gene therapy authorized under ... program」，包含縮略關係子句「authorized under ...」。結構複雜，多層嵌套。

This agreement represents the 17th and final deal in a series initiated by the White House in July 2025, when President Trump sent letters to 17 major pharmaceutical companies demanding lower drug prices.

Main clause: 'This agreement represents the 17th and final deal'. Reduced relative clause: 'initiated by the White House' (reduced from 'which was initiated'). Temporal relative clause: 'when President Trump sent letters ...' provides additional information about the time. Present participle phrase: 'demanding lower drug prices' modifies 'letters' (reduced relative clause).主句：「This agreement represents the 17th and final deal」。縮略關係子句：「initiated by the White House」（由「which was initiated」縮略）。時間關係子句：「when President Trump sent letters ...」提供時間信息。現在分詞短語：「demanding lower drug prices」修飾「letters」（縮略關係子句）。

He cited an example: reducing a $600 drug to $10 is described by Trump as a “600 percent reduction,” a calculation that Kennedy acknowledged departs from conventional mathematical norms.

Main clause: 'He cited an example'. Colon introduces an appositive example. The example itself is a passive sentence: 'reducing a $600 drug to $10 is described by Trump as ...'. Then an appositive noun phrase: 'a calculation that Kennedy acknowledged departs from conventional mathematical norms', which contains a relative clause 'that Kennedy acknowledged departs...' with a nested clause where 'acknowledged' takes a zero-that complement clause 'departs...'. This is a sophisticated structure involving multiple embeddings and passive voice.主句：「He cited an example」。冒號引出同位語例子。例子本身是被動句：「reducing a $600 drug to $10 is described by Trump as ...」。然後是同位語名詞短語：「a calculation that Kennedy acknowledged departs from conventional mathematical norms」，其中包含關係子句「that Kennedy acknowledged departs...」，而「acknowledged」帶有省略「that」的補足語子句「departs...」。這是涉及多重嵌套和被動語態的複雜結構。