STAT+: Supreme Court rejects challenge to Medicare drug price negotiation

STAT PlusBiotech Supreme Court rejects challenge to Medicare drug price negotiation Drugmakers have largely failed in suits against the program Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By John WilkersonMay 18, 2026 John Wilkerson, a Washington correspondent, is the author of D.C. Diagnosis, a twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. John Wilkerson[email protected]John Wilkerson is a Washington correspondent for STAT who writes about the politics of health care. He is also the author of the twice-weekly D.C. Diagnosis newsletter. WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday dealt a major blow to the brand drug industry’s legal campaign against the Medicare drug price negotiation program. The court declined to take up lawsuits against the program by AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Novartis, and Novo Nordisk. The justices did not give a reason for their decision. Advertisement The rejection was not a surprise. The drugmakers lost their appeals in lower courts, and the Supreme Court typically does not take up cases when there is agreement among lower courts. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus daily coverage and analysis of the biotech sector — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In biotechnology, CMS, Drug prices, legal, Medicare negotiation, Pharmaceuticals, Policy, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints John Wilkerson Washington Correspondent John Wilkerson is a Washington correspondent for STAT who writes about the politics of health care. He is also the author of the twice-weekly D.C. Diagnosis newsletter. Newsletter The latest updates in federal health agencies, research institutes, and U.S. policy Recommended Special Report May 18, 2026 STAT Plus: The China question is tearing biotech apart The Readout May 15, 2026 STAT Plus: A political contest in the U.K. could shake up drug pricing Advertisement D.C. Diagnosis May 14, 2026 STAT Plus: The hunt for FDA’s next leader The Readout May 14, 2026 STAT Plus: BeOne wins FDA approval in lymphoma race Health Tech Newsletter May 14, 2026 STAT Plus: Why big digital health players are missing from Medicare’s chronic care experiment Subscriber Picks