President-elect Donald Trump held a high-profile meeting at his Mar-a-Lago residence with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, along with key figures from the pharmaceutical industry.
The gathering, reported by Axios, included executives from Pfizer and Eli Lilly, representatives from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), and Trump’s incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles.
The meeting brought together Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks, and PhRMA CEO Steve Ubl, highlighting the pharmaceutical industry’s significant presence in the discussions.
While specific details remain confidential, the participation of such influential figures suggests the meeting may signal a re-evaluation of health policies, partnerships, and regulatory frameworks under the upcoming administration.
During Trump’s first term, his administration worked closely with private-sector companies through initiatives like Operation Warp Speed, which accelerated the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics.
However, the pharmaceutical industry is still grappling with the impact of new legislation passed under President Biden, which allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices—a change that both Biden and Trump criticized as insufficient during their campaigns.
The Mar-a-Lago meeting comes as the pharmaceutical industry faces increased scrutiny,