Delaware Governor Meyer on Drug Pricing, Reshoring, and National Security

As a part of CPHI Americas, Delaware Governor Matt Meyer sat down with PharmTech to make the case that domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing is far more than an economic issue, it's a matter of national survival. Drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Meyer argues that the US can no longer afford to depend on foreign suppliers for its most critical medicines and medical equipment.

"The manufacturing of the latest, greatest pharmaceutical innovations are not just a matter of economic growth, it's a matter of national security and winning in a global marketplace," Meyer says, framing domestic production as a strategic imperative rather than simply a jobs program.

Meyer points to Delaware's streamlined regulatory environment as a key advantage for pharmaceutical companies looking to bring innovations to market quickly or expand existing facilities. He emphasizes the importance of matching the speed of global commerce, arguing that removing bureaucratic friction is just as valuable as direct investment in new technologies.

On drug pricing and market competition, Meyer strikes a free-market position, supporting competition as the primary mechanism for setting prices, while acknowledging that certain healthcare markets are functionally broken due to overregulation or monopolistic practices. He signals a willingness to intervene at the state level, particularly as federal engagement on those issues has waned.

The COVID pandemic looms large in Meyer's remarks as a turning point in how policymakers think about supply chain vulnerability. "For life-saving medicines, life-saving treatment, life-saving equipment, we need to manufacture it here at home," he states, adding that Delaware is actively positioning itself as the lowest-cost, fastest-to-market destination for companies looking to reshore production.