TrumpRx, the White House’s new prescription drug program, will connect consumers with pharmaceutical companies that will sell certain medications at reduced prices directly to patients. The portal is expected to launch in early 2026 and already has agreements with Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, and Novo Nordisk. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk will sell the GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs Zepbound and Wegovy through the platform.
How it will work
– The TrumpRx site will act as a portal linking users to participating manufacturers’ sites. Consumers can search available drugs, verify a doctor’s prescription through the site, and buy directly from the manufacturer at reduced cash prices.
– The White House frames the effort as part of a most‑favored‑nation pricing initiative intended to align U.S. consumer prices with those in other developed countries. Participating companies gain wider direct access to consumers and, according to administration announcements, temporary exemptions from certain tariffs.
Which companies and drugs are included
– Pfizer: Agreed to sell select primary care and some specialty medications through TrumpRx, saying savings may be as high as 85% and average about 50%; specific terms remain confidential.
– AstraZeneca: Announced discounts up to 80% on some medicines offered via TrumpRx, including inhalers such as Bevespi Aerosphere and Airsupra.
– Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk: Agreed to offer weight‑loss drugs and other products. The White House said Wegovy’s price would drop from about $1,000–$1,350 per month to $350 via TrumpRx; Zepbound would fall from about $1,086 per month to $346 per month.
– Additional price examples announced: Eli Lilly’s Emgality at $299 per pen (about $443 off list price), Trulicity at $389 per month (about $598 off list), and Novo Nordisk insulin products such as NovoLog and Tresiba at $35 per monthly supply.
– The deals reportedly include commitments by Lilly and Novo Nordisk to guarantee most‑favored‑nation prices on new medicines they bring to market.
Potential benefits
– Consumers without insurance or whose plans don’t cover certain drugs may gain access to significant discounts that make costly medications more attainable.
– Experts say bringing high‑profile medicines into negotiation could signal willingness from manufacturers to discuss lower prices for other drugs, and may spur broader price competition.
Limitations and expert concerns
– Many experts expect most insured Americans will still find traditional insurance coverage more cost‑effective. Juliette Cubanski of KFF noted that people with insurance typically pay lower out‑of‑pocket costs through their plans than by buying directly from manufacturers.
– Kanwar Kelley said TrumpRx focuses on cash‑pay deals available on manufacturers’ sites and may simply organize information consumers can already find; most people will likely default to using insurance.
– It’s unclear whether purchases through TrumpRx will count toward insurers’ deductibles or out‑of‑pocket maximums, which could limit the program’s value for insured patients.
– Initially, only a limited set of medications from participating manufacturers will be available. Experts doubt the channel will cover the full range of drugs patients take.
– Even discounted prices for some high‑cost drugs may remain unaffordable for many people without insurance.
How TrumpRx fits with other efforts
– Retail agreements: Some manufacturers have separately arranged retail partnerships to sell weight‑loss drugs—Costco with Novo Nordisk and Walmart with Eli Lilly—to offer direct access or discounted retail pricing.
– Distinct programs: TrumpRx is separate from Medicare drug‑price negotiations initiated under previous administrations and differs from private discount retailers like Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus, which negotiates prices and sells generics directly to consumers.
– Critics: Trade groups and insurers emphasize that broader reforms—restoring competition, fixing patent‑system abuses, and pricing based on clinical value—are needed to address high drug prices systemically.
Outlook
Experts say TrumpRx may help some uninsured or under‑insured patients and could pressure manufacturers to negotiate more broadly, but it is unlikely to be a long‑term solution for most Americans’ prescription affordability challenges. The program’s ultimate impact will depend on the range of drugs offered, how prices compare with insured out‑of‑pocket costs, and whether purchases count toward insurer limits once the portal is active.
