MFN, Trade and Tariffs: The Future of Personalised Medicine
An evidence-led international conference examining how MFN drug-pricing policies, tariffs, localisation and trade realignment could affect personalised medicine, including innovation, launch sequencing, diagnostics, clinical research, manufacturing, supply chains and equitable patient access.
Event details
Event type
High-Level Political Lab, Congress-Side Session
Format
In-person
Audience
Ministers and government representatives; health, trade, finance and industry ministries; international organisations; regulators; HTA bodies and payers; clinicians and clinical-trial leaders; molecular diagnostics, pathology and genomics experts; pharmaceutical, biotechnology and technology companies; manufacturing and supply-chain specialists; economists, trade-law and transaction experts; patient organisations; and global-health and implementation partners.
Why this event matters
Personalised medicine depends on a globally interconnected ecosystem spanning medicines, biomarkers, companion diagnostics, laboratory inputs, clinical trials, data systems and specialist manufacturing. Changes in MFN pricing, tariffs, localisation and trade policy could therefore have consequences well beyond medicine prices, affecting innovation, launch sequencing, diagnostics, clinical research, manufacturing and equitable patient access.
Strategic frame
The event provides an evidence-led and balanced forum to examine how governments can pursue affordability, economic security and resilient supply chains while preserving the international ecosystem required to develop and deliver personalised medicines. It brings together health, trade and finance policymakers, payers, regulators, clinicians, patients, economists, diagnostics leaders, manufacturers and innovation partners to consider the full pathway from policy decision to patient outcome.
Core question
How can governments pursue affordability, trade security and supply-chain resilience without weakening the conditions required for personalised medicine to reach patients?
Agenda snapshot
Welcome and Opening Remarks
14:00–14:40
Opening remarks setting the context for the conference and its focus on the future of personalised medicine in a changing global trade and policy environment.
Policy Keynote – When Trade Policy Becomes Health Policy
14:40–15:30
Examining MFN pricing, international reference pricing, tariffs, trade agreements, localisation and onshoring as health-policy issues and their interaction across government sectors.
MFN Pricing: Affordability, Global Launch Strategies and Long-Term Patient Health
15:30–16:20
Exploring the potential effects of international price linkage on launch sequencing, lower-priced markets, R&D, new medicines and long-term patient health.
Coffee and Networking Break
16:20–16:45
Opportunity for participants to connect and exchange perspectives.
Trade, Tariffs, Manufacturing and Investment in Personalised Medicine
16:45–17:30
Examining the effects of tariffs, localisation and MFN-style pricing on manufacturing, investment, supply chains, diagnostics, clinical trials and cross-border partnerships.
Closing Policy Roundtable – Safeguards for Innovation and Equitable Access
17:30–18:15
Developing practical approaches to balance affordability, economic security and supply-chain resilience with innovation, international access and personalised-medicine infrastructure.
Conference Conclusions and Next Steps
18:15
Summary of key areas of agreement, evidence gaps and policy safeguards, forming the basis of the New York Principles on MFN, Trade and Personalised Medicine.
Tracks, labs or working groups
Trade Policy and Health Policy
Examining the intersection between MFN drug-pricing approaches and wider trade policy, including international reference pricing, tariffs, trade agreements, localisation and onshoring. The track considers how decisions across health, trade, finance and industry policy can influence the personalised-medicine ecosystem.
Expected output:
A clearer policy framework for assessing the health implications of trade and pricing measures, with consideration of their effects across the personalised-medicine pathway.
Pricing, Affordability and Innovation
Exploring the relationship between MFN pricing, medicine affordability, international launch strategies and long-term innovation. Discussions will consider launch sequencing, lower-priced markets, R&D, new medicine approvals and post-approval indications, including the implications for smaller and lower-income health s
Expected output:
Identification of policy safeguards that balance affordability objectives with continued investment in research, new medicines and future personalised treatments.
Trade, Manufacturing and Personalised Medicine Supply Chains
Examining how tariffs, localisation policies and trade realignment may affect manufacturing, investment, diagnostics, sequencing, pathology, clinical-trial materials, licensing and cross-border partnerships. The track follows the complete pathway from research and clinical trials through diagnostics and treatment to fo
Expected output:
Policy considerations for strengthening resilient and diversified supply chains while maintaining the international innovation ecosystem and access to the infrastructure required for personalised medicine.
Equitable Access and Policy Safeguards
Focusing on the practical consequences of pricing, trade and industrial policies for patients and health systems. The track considers international spillovers, diagnostic access, clinical research, launch patterns, shortages and health inequalities, while examining mechanisms for monitoring real-world effects.
Expected output:
A set of practical safeguards and monitoring priorities supporting equitable access, innovation, diagnostics and clinical research, contributing to the New York Principles on MFN, Trade and Personalised Medicine.
People and contributors
Denis Horgan
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Join us at MFN, Trade & Tariffs: Personalised Medicine
23 September 2026 | 20:00 - 21:00
United Nations, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, USA • Global / North America
Interested in this event?
IPM Alliance welcomes engagement from policymakers, scientific experts, patient organisations, health-system leaders, industry partners and implementation actors.