(NewsNation) — FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said the agency is advancing medical cures at record speed and predicts “incredible cures” will emerge over the next couple of years as the Trump administration accelerates drug approvals.
“We are advancing cures and meaningful treatments at record speed at the FDA,” Makary said during an interview Tuesday on NewsNation’s “Katie Pavlich Tonight.” “We just hit a record number of approvals in our division called CBER last month. We are crushing it and delivering cures.”
The commissioner made the remarks while discussing the administration’s Trump RX program, which aims to allow Americans to purchase prescription drugs directly without intermediaries.
Makary said the initiative will implement Most Favored Nations pricing, ensuring the U.S. receives the best prices as the world’s largest drug purchaser.
Makary said Americans currently pay about three times what other wealthy countries pay for prescription drugs, noting the U.S. has historically covered 60% of global research and development costs while other nations negotiated lower prices.
“They were laughing at us overseas,” Makary said. “Now, other countries are going to pay more, and we’re going to get the best price.”
The FDA is also moving to make more medications available over the counter and reducing regulatory barriers for generic drugs, according to Makary. He cited the example of anti-nausea medication, which patients currently must visit emergency rooms to obtain.
Makary attributed rising health care costs to systemic inefficiencies, estimating fraud could account for a third of total health care spending. Insurance company stocks have increased 1,700% since the Affordable Care Act passed, he said, while premiums have risen rather than fallen as initially promised.
The administration has also revised federal nutrition guidelines, inverting the traditional food pyramid to emphasize protein consumption and identify ultra-processed foods as health risks. Makary said the changes will apply to school lunch programs and military bases.
“The best way to lower drug prices are to stop taking drugs we don’t need,” Makary said.
