(Wall Street Journal) – The pharmaceutical industry translated a wonky policy topic into a talking point repeated by a range of groups

Drugmakers spent a record $31 million to lobby in Washington last year, and about $13 million in the first quarter of 2025, according to public filings. Millions more went to donations to political groups and ads, many of which blamed benefit managers for the high price of drugs.

Last year, executives at the drug industry trade group PhRMA told the group’s lobbyists that taking on the firms, known as PBMs, was a top priority in 2025, a lobbyist who attended the meeting said. Drug executives spent much of their time at a million-dollar dinner with Trump urging him to focus his criticism on benefit managers, according to people familiar with the dinner. They have repeatedly talked to Trump and his top aides in recent months, and some are slated to be in the Oval Office on Wednesday. (Read More)