How Pharmaceutical Tariffs May Burden Pharmacy Businesses
Drug Topics was joined by Marta Wosinska, PhD, and Joey Mattingly, PharmD, MBA, PhD, to discuss the potential impact tariffs may have if they are widely implemented within the pharmaceutical industry.
When it comes to the US imposing tariffs within any sector of American business, there are specific entities that will be forced to absorb costs and essentially lose money. In the case of pharmaceuticals, tariffs could cause immense jumps in drug prices, in turn, creating a greater challenge for pharmacies to stay financially sustainable and keep their necessary inventory in optimal supply.
“If there's a tariff, somebody is going to have to absorb it. Somebody is going to have to pay for it,” said Marta Wosinska, PhD, senior fellow with The Brookings Institution. “The question [is] who is it going to be? Is it going to be the manufacturer? Does it get passed through to the pharmacy? How much can the pharmacy pass it through to the payer, or for that matter, to the patient? So, it's going to be absorbed somewhere.”
Wosinska recently joined Drug Topics with her colleague Joey Mattingly, PharmD, MBA, PhD, to discuss the impact potential pharmaceutical tariffs may have on pharmacy businesses and their patients. With Wosinska’s experience as a health care economist, she discussed overarching implications regarding potential pharmaceutical tariffs. Mattingly, who is an associate professor and vice chair of research at the University of Utah College of Pharmacy, helped provide insights on what these tariffs might mean for pharmacies.
“I think in the short run, this is going to be impactful in terms of pharmacists figuring out are their margins going to shrink for different drugs,” Mattingly told Drug Topics. “And how might it impact across brands versus generics? There could be differentials there.”
While a federal court recently blocked the Trump Administration’s ability to unilaterally impose tariffs, it since has appealed the court’s decision.1 So while the courts and the government deliberate on this decision, business and pharmacy experts will continue to prepare for a potential shake up to the US prescription drug market and beyond.
READ MORE: Q&A: Pharmaceutical Tariffs Could Result in Generic Drug Shortages
Are you ready to elevate your pharmacy practice? Sign up today for our free Drug Topics newsletter and get the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips, straight to your inbox.
Reference
Schonfeld Z. Court of International Trade blocks Trump’s tariffs in sweeping ruling. The Hill. May 28, 2025. Accessed May 29, 2025. https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5322889-court-rules-trump-tariffs/
