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One of the world’s largest drug companies has been aggressively raising prices even as it received hundreds of millions of dollars of U.S. government aid to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. AstraZeneca, which the Trump administration has lauded for its vaccine work, boosted prices despite renewed promises by President Trump this summer to keep drug costs in check. (Levey, 9/14)

President Donald Trump’s senior advisor Jared Kushner told CNBC on Tuesday he supports the president’s plan to cut drug prices, arguing that the U.S. shouldn’t pay more than other European countries for the same treatments. The comments by the president’s son-in-law came two days after Trump announced that he signed an executive order aiming to lower drug prices. ... “Right now, there’s a disproportionate burden being shared by America,” Kushner said on “Squawk Box.” “If you’re the largest customer from somebody, you should be getting the best price, not the worst price.” (Franck, 9/15)

On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced he had “just signed” an executive order aimed at lowering prescription drug prices. The order states that its “most-favored-nation” policy is intended to ensure the United States “should not pay more for costly Part B prescription drugs or biological products.” (Parrott, 9/14)

President Trump is seeking a preelection boost on a top issue for voters — lowering drug prices — but there are doubts about when and if his latest move will bring down costs for patients. Trump signed a long-awaited executive order Sunday that aims to lower the amount Medicare pays for many drugs by tying the cost to the price tag in other developed countries. While the move could significantly cut the price for certain drugs, the timing of Trump’s action means implementation is unlikely before Election Day. (Sullivan, 9/14)

With 50 days to go before the 2020 election, President Trump is taking his wildest swing yet at the pharmaceutical industry. He’s likely to miss, but that might not matter. (Florko and Facher, 9/15)