Eric Cantor Named New President and CEO of PhRMA
Former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor will lead the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) starting November 9. Cantor brings extensive experience from both public policy and the business sector.
The Board of Directors of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) announced on September 29, 2026, that Eric Cantor has been selected as the organization's next president and chief executive officer. Cantor will assume the role on November 9, bringing decades of experience at the intersection of business and public policy to lead the industry group during a significant period for American biopharmaceutical innovation.
"Eric is well respected among policy leaders in Washington and around the world, with a long track record of working effectively across the political spectrum to achieve important outcomes," said Rob Davis, chairman of PhRMA's Board of Directors and CEO of Merck. "Eric's unique combination of global business acumen coupled with policy and political experience at the highest levels of government make him an ideal person to lead PhRMA during this critical next chapter."
Cantor represented Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2000 to 2014, serving as House Majority Leader from 2011 to 2014. During his congressional tenure, he played a role in legislation supporting pediatric disease research and was instrumental in the establishment of Medicare Part D, which expanded prescription drug coverage for seniors and individuals with disabilities. He also contributed to the groundwork for the 21st Century Cures Act, a law that increased funding for the National Institutes of Health and reformed Food and Drug Administration processes.
Since leaving Congress, Cantor has served as Vice Chairman and Managing Director at Moelis & Company, advising organizations and executives on business strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and global economic issues. He will continue to serve on Moelis & Company's Board of Directors in his new capacity.
Cantor succeeds Stephen J. Ubl, who has led PhRMA since 2015. PhRMA represents leading innovative biopharmaceutical research companies in the United States focused on developing new medicines and improving patient access to treatments.