Steve Ubl, CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), will step down from his position at the end of this year, according to an April 9 announcement. Ubl has led the influential industry group for more than a decade and will remain in his role until a successor is found to ensure a smooth transition.
Ubl's departure marks a significant change for PhRMA, which represents major pharmaceutical companies in policy discussions and lobbying efforts. The leadership transition comes at a time when drug pricing remains a central issue in national health policy debates.
Ubl said he first considered leaving after the 2024 U.S. elections but was persuaded by PhRMA’s board to stay on longer. He emphasized that his decision is not related to policies from the Trump administration, stating that some were beneficial to the industry. After leaving PhRMA, Ubl plans to pursue teaching, consulting, and serving on boards of other industry groups.
During his tenure since 2015, Ubl guided PhRMA through events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and three presidential administrations that enacted various measures aimed at lowering drug prices. One notable development was the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law in August 2022 by President Biden. The IRA introduced Medicare drug price negotiations—a move strongly contested by PhRMA under Ubl’s leadership through legal challenges alleging unconstitutionality.
Despite mixed results in these legal battles and losing several high-profile members like AbbVie and AstraZeneca in 2023, PhRMA continued its advocacy work. In February this year, Merck CEO Robert Davis became chair of its board. "What I’m most proud of is really putting the organization on offense," Ubl told The Washington Post.
The next leader will face ongoing pressures as government initiatives such as TrumpRx—a direct-to-patient drug pricing platform—and new mandates like Most Favored Nation pricing seek further reductions in medication costs.
