AstraZeneca makes deal with Trump Admin to Cut Drug Prices 80% and Invest $50B in US

AstraZeneca has reached a wide-ranging agreement with the Trump administration to cut prescription drug prices for American patients—offering up to 80% discounts via TrumpRx.gov—while investing $50 billion to expand domestic manufacturing and R&D. The initiative aims to equalize U.S. medicine prices with other wealthy nations and maintain America’s biopharmaceutical innovation leadership.

Announced during a White House event attended by President Donald J. Trump and AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot, the voluntary agreement marks one of the most sweeping commitments by a major pharmaceutical company to address drug affordability in the United States. The deal also underscores efforts to preserve the nation’s position as a global leader in biopharmaceutical innovation.

Major Drug Discounts and Direct-to-Consumer Access

Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will offer direct-to-consumer (DTC) discounts of up to 80% off list prices for eligible patients with prescriptions for chronic diseases. The company will join the government’s TrumpRx.gov platform, enabling patients to purchase medicines directly from AstraZeneca at reduced cash prices.

This move is expected to improve affordability for Americans managing long-term conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer—areas where AstraZeneca has significant product portfolios.

Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca, said the new arrangement represents a “transformational step” in patient access:  “Every year AstraZeneca treats millions of Americans living with cancer and chronic diseases and, as a result of today’s agreement, many patients will access life-changing medicines at lower prices. This new approach also helps safeguard America’s pioneering role as a global powerhouse in innovation and developing the next generation of medicines.”

Manufacturing Shift and $50 Billion U.S. Investment

A central feature of the agreement involves onshoring all AstraZeneca medicines sold in the United States. The company reached a parallel deal with the U.S. Department of Commerce to delay Section 232 tariffs for three years, allowing time to localize production.

To achieve this, AstraZeneca will invest $50 billion over the next five years to expand U.S.-based manufacturing and R&D operations—a scale of investment rarely seen in the pharmaceutical sector. The company expects these initiatives to help drive $80 billion in total revenue by 2030, half of which will be generated in the U.S. market.

AstraZeneca currently employs more than 25,000 people in the U.S. and supports over 100,000 jobs nationwide through its broader economic impact. The company estimates it contributed approximately $20 billion in overall value to the U.S. economy in 2025.

Broader Context and Implications

This announcement marks the second major agreement between a pharmaceutical company and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in recent weeks aimed at reducing drug prices. While the specific financial terms of AstraZeneca’s deal remain confidential, the initiative signals growing pressure on the pharmaceutical industry to voluntarily address high medication costs before additional federal regulation is imposed.