While the 2026 pharmaceutical tariff story has focused heavily on the 13 companies that secured MFN deals, the more urgent question for many patients is: which major companies did NOT sign deals — and what does that mean for the drugs they make?
The default tariff rate for brand-name drugs without a deal, country exemption, or specialty classification is 100%, effective September 29, 2026. Companies that have not secured deals are operating under that default — unless their drugs qualify for a country-of-manufacture exemption or specialty category.
Companies Without MFN Deals (Notable Absences)
Pfizer
Pfizer is conspicuously absent from the Annex III list — notable given that it is the world's largest pharmaceutical company by revenue. Pfizer's brand-name portfolio includes:
- Ibrance (palbociclib) — breast cancer
- Eliquis (apixaban) — co-marketed with Bristol Myers Squibb (which IS Annex III)
- Vyndamax / Vyndaqel (tafamidis) — heart disease (ATTR-CM)
- Xeljanz (tofacitinib) — rheumatoid arthritis
- Prevnar 20 (pneumococcal vaccine) — adult vaccine
- Nurtec ODT (rimegepant) — migraine
Note on Eliquis: BMS co-markets Eliquis and is Annex III. Whether Pfizer's manufacturing role creates tariff exposure for Eliquis is a nuanced legal question — one to watch closely.
Johnson & Johnson
J&J's pharmaceutical division (Janssen) did not sign an MFN deal. Key drugs at risk:
- Stelara (ustekinumab) — Crohn's, UC, psoriasis (though biosimilars Wezlana and Selarsdi are exempt)
- Tremfya (guselkumab) — psoriasis
- Darzalex (daratumumab) — multiple myeloma
- Erleada (apalutamide) — prostate cancer
- Rybrevant (amivantamab) — lung cancer
Bayer
Bayer is a German company (which could qualify for the 15% EU rate) that did not sign an MFN deal. Their drugs:
- Xarelto (rivaroxaban) — blood thinner for DVT, stroke prevention. If manufactured in Germany or the EU, the rate would be 15% rather than 100%.
- Eylea (aflibercept) — wet AMD, co-developed with Regeneron
- Nubeqa (darolutamide) — prostate cancer
The country-of-manufacture question is critical for Bayer: drugs manufactured in Germany get 15%, not 100%.
Takeda
Japanese company Takeda did not sign an MFN deal. Japan-manufactured drugs would qualify for the 15% rate:
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) — ADHD. Generic lisdexamfetamine is now available and fully exempt.
- Entyvio (vedolizumab) — Crohn's, UC
- Trintellix (vortioxetine) — depression
AstraZeneca Note: AstraZeneca IS Annex III, covering Farxiga, Tagrisso, Brilinta, and others.
The Country-of-Manufacture Factor
For companies without MFN deals, the country where the drug is manufactured determines the fallback rate:
- EU, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Liechtenstein: 15%
- United Kingdom: 10%
- All other countries: 100% default
Many European and Japanese pharmaceutical companies manufacture their drugs domestically. Bayer's German manufacturing, Takeda's Japanese operations, and similar setups may qualify these drugs for 10–15% rates rather than 100% — significantly changing the risk calculus.
The problem: country-of-manufacture data is not always publicly available from the FDA drug label database. This site updates its database as information becomes available, but uncertainty exists for some drugs.
What Patients Should Do
If your drug is from Pfizer, J&J, Takeda, UCB, or another non-Annex III company:
1. Check if a generic or biosimilar exists — fully exempt at 0%
2. Check our drug search tool for the latest tariff classification
3. Monitor the situation — companies have until September 29 to reach deals; new agreements may be announced
4. Ask your doctor now about alternatives in case your drug faces significant price increases
The tariff situation is fluid. New deals could be signed between now and September, changing the risk picture materially for companies currently on this list.