US drug lobby group PhRMA names former House leader Cantor as CEO

Merck & Co

29/09/2026 19:18

Sept 29 (Reuters) - The US pharmaceutical lobby group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said on Tuesday it had named former US House Majority Leader Eric Cantor as its next president and chief executive officer.
Cantor, who served in the US House of Representatives from 2000 to 2014, will take over on November 9, PhRMA said.
He succeeds Stephen J. Ubl, who has led the organization since 2015, a period in which the pharmaceutical industry faced pressure from US administrations and lawmakers over prescription drug pricing, market access and regulation.
PhRMA credited Cantor with backing the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, rare pediatric disease research funding and the 21st Century Cures Act during his time in Congress.
Rob Davis, PhRMA board chair and CEO of Merck MRK.N, said in a statement that Cantor had experience in business, policy and politics.
Ubl will remain as a strategic adviser until mid-January 2027 to assist with the transition.

 (Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
 ((Kamal.Choudhury@thomsonreuters.com;))