#64 Panzaru: Most Favored Nation Drug Pricing and the Transatlantic Tug-of-War | Hosted by Szilard Szelpal Artwork

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The Central European Affairs Talk podcast is delivered to you by Central European Affairs (CEA) digital magazine, publishing high-quality conversations that bring critical and innovative thinking to the fore and stimulate debate.Our podcast focuses on topics related to democracy, rule of law, human and digital rights, as well as culture and European integration in Central and Eastern Europe. CEA Talk is dedicated to informing and educating decision-makers, politicians, businessmen, scholars, researchers as well as interested persons from other professional areas. It features balanced treatment and a wide array of opinions from its debate partners.The main goal of the talks presented by CEA Talk is to provide in-depth knowledge of democratic actors and procedures as well as to promote critical and democratic thinking and behavior.

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#64 Panzaru: Most Favored Nation Drug Pricing and the Transatlantic Tug-of-War | Hosted by Szilard Szelpal

August 30, 2025 • Central European Affairs Magazine • Season 4 • Episode 12

In this episode of CEA Talk, host Szilárd Szelpál sits down with Dr. Emil Panzaru, Research Director at the Consumer Choice Center, to unpack one of the most controversial health and trade policies on both sides of the Atlantic: Most Favored Nation drug pricing. They discuss what MFN pricing actually means for U.S. patients, how EU regulatory reforms could reshape global access to medicines, and the trade tensions between Washington and Brussels on patents and pricing. The conversation also examines the role of pharmacy benefit managers in driving up patient costs and looks ahead to what the future may hold for innovation, access, and the global pharmaceutical market.

This episode dives deep into the policy tug-of-war between affordability, innovation, and trade — and what it all means for patients, governments, and the pharmaceutical industry.

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