STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about pharma lobbying, a disappointing Novo clinical trial, and much more

Back to news list

Source: STAT News

Original: https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2026/02/23/pharma-lobbying-novo-obesity-merck...

Published: Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:57:18 +0000

Pharmaceutical companies are significantly increasing spending on lobbying firms with ties to the White House. Novartis cooperates with the firms DLA Piper and Corcoran & Associates, among its lobbyists is former Republican Senator Richard Burr. Alkermes, Novo Nordisk and Genentech have hired advisers with ties to the first Trump administration. Lobbyists are using the new UK-US pricing deal as an example of bargaining under pressure from Trump's tariffs. According to representatives of drug manufacturers, the British agreement can be a model for the EU and other partners. Pressure is mounting on the EU to strike a similar deal, with Germany's Pharma Deutschland lobby calling US tariffs a geopolitical risk. The companies are offering the White House their own solutions instead of resistance, including contributions of $50 billion from Roche, $23 billion from Novartis and $20 billion from Sanofi. The geopolitical situation forces pharmaceutical companies to review strategies in all markets.[1]