Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Medicare Drug Price Negotiation

The Supreme Court on May 18, 2026 declined to take up lawsuits against the Medicare drug price negotiation program, dealing a major blow to the brand drug industry's legal campaign. AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Novartis, and Novo Nordisk had filed the lawsuits but lost their appeals in lower courts. The justices gave no reason for rejecting the cases, making remaining pharmaceutical industry challenges more difficult to pursue.

Supreme Court rejection

• ▪The Supreme Court justices did not give a reason for their decision to reject the Medicare drug price negotiation lawsuits
• ▪The Supreme Court on May 18, 2026 declined to take up lawsuits against the Medicare drug price negotiation program
• ▪The Supreme Court decision on May 18, 2026 dealt a major blow to the brand drug industry's legal campaign against the Medicare drug price negotiation program
• ▪The Supreme Court rejection of the Medicare drug price negotiation lawsuits was not a surprise
• ▪The Supreme Court typically does not take up cases when there is agreement among lower courts

Pharmaceutical company lawsuits

• ▪The drugmakers lost their appeals in lower courts regarding the Medicare drug price negotiation program
• ▪AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Novartis, and Novo Nordisk filed lawsuits against the Medicare drug price negotiation program

Perspective of Brand drug industry (AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Novartis, Novo Nordisk)

• ▪The Supreme Court decision on May 18, 2026 dealt a major blow to the brand drug industry's legal campaign against the Medicare drug price negotiation program