Reporting by Michael Erman in New York and Robin Respaut in San Francisco; Editing by Michele Gershberg and Sonya Hepinstall Novartis , Roche , GlaxoSmithKline , Pfizer and AstraZeneca are among nearly 30 pharmaceutical companies reportedly planning to increase the price of their drugs in the US in January . The announcement comes after the industry implemented a self - imposed freeze on price rises last year , following pressure from US President Donald Trump , who made tackling the high cost of drugs a priority in his 2016 presidential campaign . The US Department of Health and Human Services has planned policies to lower prices and pass discounts on to patients . However , these proposals are not expected to come quickly enough to help patients in the short - term .
Novartis , Roche , GlaxoSmithKline , Pfizer and AstraZeneca are among nearly 30 pharmaceutical companies reportedly planning to increase the price of their drugs in the US in January . The announcement comes after the industry implemented a self - imposed freeze on price rises last year , following pressure from US President Donald Trump , who made tackling the high cost of drugs a priority in his 2016 presidential campaign . The US Department of Health and Human Services has planned policies to lower prices and pass discounts on to patients . However , these proposals are not expected to come quickly enough to help patients in the short - term .