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May 15, 2025   

"Whole-of-Government" Approach? How New Leadership at HHS, FDA, and FTC Could Amplify Antitrust Pressure in the Pharmaceutical Sector

This Briefing is brought to you by AHLA’s Antitrust Practice Group.
  • May 15, 2025
  • William Lavery , Clifford Chance LLP
  • Makenzie Stuard , Clifford Chance LLP

President Trump's selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) marks a dramatic shift in federal health policy, creating a rapidly evolving enforcement landscape for pharmaceutical companies. Kennedy’s appointment—alongside President Trump’s picks of Dr. Marty Makary to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Andrew Ferguson as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)—signals a potential recalibration of antitrust and competition policy. These leaders have openly criticized drug pricing practices and alleged anticompetitive conduct in health care markets, aligning closely with President Trump’s agenda. Pharmaceutical companies should brace for increased regulatory scrutiny.

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