White House Unveils Healthcare Plan to Slash Drug Prices and Transform Industry Dynamics
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 19 2026
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Drug Price Reform: The White House's unveiling of 'The Great Healthcare Plan' on January 15, 2026, aims to significantly reduce prescription drug prices through 'Most-Favored-Nation' pricing agreements, alleviating consumer burdens and reshaping the pharmaceutical market landscape.
- Subsidy Shift: By redirecting insurance subsidies directly to consumers instead of insurers, the plan is expected to lower insurance costs and enhance consumer choice, thereby impacting the revenue models of traditional insurance companies.
- Retail Pharmacy Gains: The proposal to allow more prescription drugs to be sold over-the-counter will directly boost sales for retail pharmacies like Walmart, increasing foot traffic and enhancing the profitability of their clinic operations.
- Portfolio Reevaluation: Investors are advised to reassess their ETF portfolios, prioritizing companies that benefit from the new policies, such as HealthEquity and the iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF, while avoiding middlemen companies facing regulatory pressures.
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Analyst Views on AZN
Wall Street analysts forecast AZN stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
13 Buy
0 Hold
1 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 208.670
Low
157.61
Averages
213.64
High
252.18
Current: 208.670
Low
157.61
Averages
213.64
High
252.18
About AZN
AstraZeneca PLC is a United Kingdom-based science-led biopharmaceutical company. The Company focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines. The Company operates across therapy areas, including Oncology; Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM); Respiratory and Immunology (R&I); Vaccines and Immune Therapies (V&I), and Rare Disease. In the Oncology area, its key products include Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Calquence, Lynparza, and Enhertu. The key products of CVRM area include Farxiga/Forxiga, Brilinta/Brilique, Crestor, and Lokelma. In the R&I area, the key products are Symbicort, Fasenra, Breztri/Trixeo, and Tezspire. In the V&I Therapies area, the products are Beyfortus and FluMist. The products in the Rare Disease area are Ultomiris, Soliris, Strensiq, and Koselugo. It has about 191 projects in its development pipeline, including 19 new molecular entities (NMEs) in the late-stage pipeline. The Company distributes its products in over 125 countries.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Multi-Partner Collaboration Model: The platform's flexible architecture enables a multi-model partner approach, providing access to advanced AI models and deep enterprise expertise, fostering smarter operational insights and driving innovation in the industry.
See More
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Strategic Collaborations: EvinoVA has announced strategic collaborations with major pharmaceutical companies including Astellas, AstraZeneca, and Bristol Myers Squibb.
Focus on Clinical Development: These partnerships aim to advance EvinoVA's AI-native platform to accelerate global clinical development efforts.
See More
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- Policy Advocacy: FDA Commissioner Marty Makary stated in Washington that the agency plans to push for more prescription drugs to become over-the-counter (OTC) this year, aiming to improve drug accessibility and reduce healthcare costs, which could allow patients to obtain basic safe medications without a doctor's visit.
- Regulatory Streamlining: Legislation passed by Congress in November simplifies the regulatory process for transitioning prescription drugs to OTC status, including full, conditional, and partial switch pathways, which is expected to accelerate drug availability and enhance patient convenience in medication access.
- Increased Transparency: Makary emphasized that OTC sales would bypass insurers and pharmacy benefit managers, potentially lowering drug prices and increasing transparency, with cash prices for OTC medications possibly being lower than patients' copays for prescription drugs, thereby alleviating financial burdens on patients.
- Industry Pushback: The pharmaceutical industry has raised concerns about this policy, arguing that OTC drugs may not be covered by insurance, leading to higher costs for patients, and that the FDA lacks authority over drug pricing, necessitating thorough consultations with manufacturers before any transitions.
See More
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- Regulatory Reform Advocacy: FDA Commissioner Marty Makary asserts that all drugs should be over-the-counter unless deemed unsafe or addictive, aiming to enhance drug accessibility and reduce healthcare costs through streamlined regulatory processes.
- Drug Transition Process: The FDA is updating OTC monographs to transition basic, safe prescription drugs like nausea medications and vaginal estrogen to OTC status, allowing patients to obtain necessary medications without a doctor's visit.
- Industry Pushback: The pharmaceutical industry has expressed skepticism regarding the FDA's plans, arguing that many OTC drugs are not covered by insurance, potentially leading to higher costs for patients and decreased access to treatments.
- Transparency and Cost Control: Makary emphasizes that OTC sales will enhance price transparency, bypassing insurers and pharmacy benefit managers, thereby making drug prices more competitive and promoting patient adherence to medication regimens.
See More
