US pharma urges Trump hit on PBS

American pharmaceutical companies have targeted the PBS in a plea to President Donald Trump to use "all available trade enforcement tools" to force Australia to change what they claim are unfair trade practices.

US industry body, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) earlier this month submitted comments to the Office of the US Trade Representative identifying several countries, including Australia, which it claims have "unfair and non-reciprocal foreign trade practices that harm America's innovative biopharmaceutical industry".

PhRMA accused Australia of employing pricing policies that do not appropriately recognise innovation, including using a lowest-cost comparator when setting the prices of new medicines, statutory price reductions, and subsidy caps. The PBAC comes under direct attack.