Incubate Releases Statement on President Trump's New Pharmaceutical Tariffs: Tariffs Threaten to Undermine U.S. Biopharmaceutical Leadership

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 26) -- Yesterday, President Trump announced sweeping tariffs of 100% on brand-name and patented pharmaceutical imports. The tariffs are set to go into effect on October 1.

Incubate executive director John Stanford issued the following statement:

"Tariffs on pharmaceuticals and their components will raise costs, disrupt supply chains, and risk drug shortages for millions of Americans who rely on prescription medicines. Even short delays in access can have serious consequences for patients managing chronic or life-threatening conditions.

"As we noted in our Section 232 Comment, tariffs inject further uncertainty and costs into the life sciences sector -- signaling instability to investors and making it harder for early-stage companies to secure the capital needed to bring new therapies to patients. Tariffs will increase costs for American biotech, and every dollar diverted from their groundbreaking R&D will result in slower medical progress and fewer treatments for the patients counting on them.

"Incubate remains committed to advancing policies that sustain U.S. role at the forefront of  medical innovation. Unfortunately, these tariffs coupled with other recent proposals such as Most-Favored-Nation drug pricing – pose a serious threat to that position. They discourage venture investment, weaken the ability of emerging companies to compete globally, and ultimately jeopardize patient access to the very breakthroughs that define American biopharmaceutical leadership."

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About Incubate

Incubate is a 501(c)(4) organization of venture capital firms representing the patient, corporate, and investment communities. Our primary aim is to educate policymakers on the role of venture capital in bringing promising treatments to patients in need.