Stephen J. Ubl
Stephen J. Ubl is president and chief executive officer of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which represents America’s leading biopharmaceutical research companies. The U.S. biopharmaceutical sector directly employs more than 800,000 Americans and invests more than $100 billion in research and development annually – more than any other industry in America.
Ubl leads PhRMA’s work preserving and strengthening a health care and economic environment that encourages medical innovation, new drug discovery and access to life-saving medicines. Ubl is recognized around the world as a leading health care advocate and policy expert who collaborates successfully with diverse stakeholder groups – including patient and physician groups, regulators, public and private payers, and global trade organizations – to help ensure timely patient access to innovative treatments and cures. The New York Times writes, “If anyone can find areas of agreement with the critics, or at least work productively with them, it may be Mr. Ubl. He is more conversant with the intricacies of health policy, and more adept at the politics."
Previously, Ubl served as president and CEO of medical technology association AdvaMed, where he helped facilitate landmark reforms related to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration product review process and Medicare’s coverage and reimbursement of medical technologies. He led the industry’s defense of breakthrough R&D, successfully delaying an innovation-stifling device tax, and, in 2013, was recognized by a leading industry publication as one of 10 people to have a lasting impact on the medical technology industry.
Ubl has worked extensively with patient advocacy organizations in health policy, including longstanding service on the board of the National Health Council, a leading umbrella organization for voluntary health care organizations and has been personally involved with JDRF (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).
He is routinely recognized as one of Washington’s most effective advocates. Ubl has been recognized on Business Insider’s “DC Healthcare Power Players” and Modern Healthcare’s “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare.” He is identified as a top health influencer by Medical Marketing & Media and PR Week magazines.
President and Chief Executive Officer
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveubl/
How 250 years of smart policy built America's biopharmaceutical edge
Nearly 80 researchers advocate on Capitol Hill
CNBC: Maintaining America’s lead in medical innovation
PhRMA Forum 2026 highlights the importance of fostering the next era of American leadership
Congratulations to our 2026 Working for Cures Employee Champions
Historic biopharmaceutical investments: A prescription for America’s future
ICYMI: Forget Foreign Price Controls: There’s a better solution to lowering drug prices
A successful PhRMA Forum highlights our commitment to a healthier America
Wrapping up the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference
Congratulations to our 2024 Working for Cures Employee Champions
Recent events highlight progress on health equity
More than 60 researchers advocate on Capitol Hill
Showcasing the promise of biopharma at ASCO 2024
Powering the next generation of therapies: A conversation with Astellas US President Mark Reisenauer
When it comes to the future of innovation, the ball is in policymakers’ court
The White House continues to attack American innovation
Congratulations to our 2023 Working for Cures Employee Champions
R&D leaders to Biden Administration: Your policies are undermining the Cancer Moonshot
New analysis shows PBMs use fees as a profit center
More than 60 researchers ask Congress to support innovation
ASCO 2023: Protecting our progress in the fight against cancer
Addressing Mental Health: A conversation with Barry Greene, CEO of Sage Therapeutics
Congratulations to our 2022 Working for Cures Employee Champions
PDUFA and BsUFA reauthorizations are wins for patients
An open letter to Congress: Stand with patients and future cures
Copay assistance is a lifeline for patients. So why are insurers blocking it?
Biopharmaceutical researchers to discuss the value of R&D with Congress
A conversation with Barry Greene, CEO of Sage Therapeutics
Upcoming graduate student summit will showcase pathways to success within the biopharmaceutical industry
A global focus on ending the COVID-19 pandemic
America’s biopharmaceutical companies to Congress: Government “negotiation” is the wrong approach
The future of the rebate rule: Will policymakers stand with patients?
Building a better health care system: A conversation with Mark Reisenauer, President of Astellas US
How research evolves and brings new hope to patients
PhRMA hosts first stakeholder workshop on clinical trial diversity
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Barry Greene, CEO of Sage Therapeutics
Ron Busby, Sr., President and CEO of the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. on improving vaccine confidence in community
Our three-part approach to build a better health care system
Strengthening a culture dedicated to patients and equity: A conversation with Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Paul Perreault, CEO and Managing Director of CSL
Strengthening a culture dedicated to patients and equity: A conversation with Percival Barretto-Ko, President of Astellas US
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Kabir K. Nath, President & CEO of Otsuka North America Pharmaceutical Bu
An unprecedented year and the road ahead: A conversation with Giovanni Caforio, PhRMA Chairman and CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Peter Anastasiou, Executive Vice President of Lundbeck
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Alexander Hardy, CEO of Genentech
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Ramona Sequeira, President of Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Albert Bourla, Chairman & CEO of Pfizer, Inc.
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Paul Hudson, CEO of Sanofi
New initiative to bridge the gap on antimicrobial innovation
Lilly, Merck and Pfizer empower team members to volunteer on COVID-19 frontlines
COVID-19 Response: Supporting the frontline
Helping those affected by the coronavirus
The Value Collaborative: Advancing private market solutions to achieve better health, lower costs
PhRMA CEO Statement Following Meeting With President Trump
Endpoints at #JPM25: Healthcare Policy Under the New Administration
On January 13, PhRMA’s President and CEO Steve Ubl participated in an Endpoints panel, “Healthcare Policy Under the New Administration,” as part of their coverage of the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. During the interview, Steve discussed how the new administration can get rid of inefficiencies in the health care system, address the role PBMs and the 340B program play in driving up health care costs, and potential changes to the IRA that could come from the new administration and Congress, including addressing the pill penalty.
When:
Monday, January 13, 2025
Speakers:
- Dina Radenkovic, Co-Founder & CEO, Gameto
- Stephen J. Ubl, President & CEO, PhRMA
- Juliette Cubanski, Deputy Director, Program on Medicare Policy, KFF
- Katherine Andersen, Head of Life Science & Healthcare, HSBC Innovation Banking US
- Meena Seshamani, Former Deputy Administrator & Director, CMS
- Drew Armstrong, Executive Editor, Endpoints News (Moderator)
Event
Fierce JPM Week 2024 Patient Affordability Outlook
Fierce JPM Week: 2024 Patient Affordability Outlook
On January 9, as part of PhRMA’s sponsorship of Fierce JPM Week, PhRMA President and CEO Stephen J. Ubl joined Stephanie Butler for a conversation about patient access and affordability. During the conversation, Ubl dove into harmful policies impacting biopharmaceutical innovation, such as the Biden Administration’s recently proposed march-in rights framework, and offered policy solutions that would reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients, like reforms to middlemen known as pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).
When:
January 9, 2024, at 11:55 AM PT
Speakers:
- Stephen J. Ubl, President and Chief Executive Officer, PhRMA
- Stephanie Butler, Senior Conference Production Director, Fierce Life Sciences (Moderator)
Fierce JPM Week: 2024 Patient Affordability Outlook image
Cost and Value
Event
PhRMA Media Briefing at ASCO
PhRMA’s Media Briefing at ASCO
As clinical oncologists gathered in Chicago to meet at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)’s Annual Meeting, PhRMA held a media briefing to discuss critical issues facing the future of cancer research and treatment.
Reporters heard from Stephen J. Ubl, President and CEO of PhRMA, alongside industry and patient advocacy leaders on impacts the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will have on the research and development (R&D) of cancer treatments. The group also shared the results of a new analysis from the Partnership for Health Analytics and Research (PHAR) on how price setting provisions in the IRA impact R&D for cancer medicines.
When:
June 2, 2023 in Chicago, IL
Speakers:
- Stephen J. Ubl, President and CEO, PhRMA
- Vas Narasimhan, CEO, Novartis; Board Chair, PhRMA
- Alexander Hardy, CEO, Genentech
- Jeff Allen, President and CEO, Friends of Cancer Research
PhRMA’s Media Briefing at ASCO image
Economic Impact
Event
Pathways to Patient Affordability
On March 30, PhRMA sponsored The Hill’s event, “Pathways to Patient Affordability,” where PhRMA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Stephen J. Ubl, joined author and journalist, Kathleen Koch, for a conversation about the barriers to achieving patient affordability. Ubl discussed how the predatory practices of middlemen, such as not sharing cost savings with patients, force patients to pay more at the pharmacy counter.
In addition to PhRMA’s sponsored segment, the event included a panel of industry experts, and two conversations with members of Congress. The panel featured representatives from the biopharmaceutical, pharmacy, PBM, and patient advocate industries, who each shared what they see as the path forward to achieve patient access and affordability. From opposite sides of the aisle, the two policymakers shared their concerns about PBM business practices and their impact on affordability.
When
March 30, 2023 at 11:00 AMET
Speakers:
- Stephen J. Ubl, President and Chief Executive Officer, PhRMA
- Kathleen Koch, Author and Journalist (sponsored session moderator)
- Lei Ding, Senior Vice President, Market Access & Commercial Capabilities, Astellas Pharma US
- Douglas Hoey, CEO, National Community Pharmacists Association
- Kristin Bass, Chief Policy & External Affairs Officer, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA)
- Gary Puckrein, PhD, President & CEO, National Minority Quality Forum
- Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), Member, Health Care Subcommittee, Finance Committee
- Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA1), Member, Health Subcommittee, Energy & Commerce Committee
- Bob Cusack, Editor-in-Chief, The Hill (moderator)
Pathways to Patient Affordability image
Cost and Value
Event
Whats really driving the cost of health care in 2023
What’s really driving the cost of health care in 2023?
On January 9, PhRMA sponsored the “Endpoints at #JPM23” event, where PhRMA’s president and CEO Stephen J. Ubl joined other health care leaders for a panel titled, “What’s really driving the cost of health care in 2023?”
The group spoke to an in-person and livestream audience, discussing current challenges in the biopharmaceutical supply chain that drive up out-of-pocket costs for patients at the pharmacy counter and debating the best way to approach value assessment.
When
January 9, 2023 at 10:30 AM PT
Speakers:
- Stephen J. Ubl, President and Chief Executive Officer, PhRMA
- Steven (Steve) D. Pearson., President, ICER
- Greg Baker., co-founder and CEO, EmsanaRx
- Drew Armstrong., Executive Editor, Endpoints News (Moderator)
What’s really driving the cost of health care in 2023? image
Cost and Value
Event
The Inflation Reduction Act Unfinished Business
The Inflation Reduction Act: Unfinished Business
On November 15, PhRMA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Stephen J. Ubl, joined Matthew Herper at the STAT Summit to discuss the newly enacted Inflation Reduction Act and how the law harms biopharmaceutical R&D and doesn’t do enough to address patient affordability and access.
When:
November 15, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. ET
Speakers:
- Stephen J. Ubl, President and Chief Executive Officer, PhRMA
- Matthew Herper, Senior Writer, Medicine, Editorial Director of Events, STAT (moderator)
The Inflation Reduction Act: Unfinished Business image
Economic Impact
Event