An independent and autonomous FDA is a key part of ensuring that the biotech innovation ecosystem can continue to thrive. As an agency, it is the gold standard globally for determining risk-reward benefit in therapies for patients, and the world looks to it to lead the way. The people at the FDA are trying hard to make sure that we actually make progress, and their work is a service to the American public.

America is the global leader in biomedical innovation because it has a market that values new medicines. When other countries pay less, they are free-riding on our willingness to pay for new treatments. Forcing drug manufacturers to charge the same price that these other countries mandate would backfire. Instead, policymakers should use trade negotiations to pressure other wealthy countries to pay their fair share.