US President Donald Trump has launched TrumpRx.gov, a new government-backed website designed to help Americans access discounted prescription medicines without using insurance.
The platform, unveiled on Thursday at the White House, is a central pillar of Trump’s renewed push to cut high drug prices in the United States, which remain among the highest in the developed world.
Speaking alongside Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr Mehmet Oz and Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, Trump said the website would help millions of Americans save money on essential medicines.
“People are going to save a lot of money and be healthy,” Trump said.
Drugmakers strike pricing deals
The launch follows “most-favoured nation” agreements between the Trump administration and 16 major global pharmaceutical companies, allowing lower prices for Americans in exchange for exemptions from US tariffs.
Under the deals, drugmakers agreed to reduce prices for the government’s Medicaid programme and for cash-paying consumers through TrumpRx.gov.
Notably, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk agreed to slash prices on popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, with the government estimating monthly costs will fall to between $149 and $350 on average.
Novo Nordisk recently launched a Wegovy pill, currently sold only through direct-to-consumer channels while insurers finalise coverage decisions.
How TrumpRx works
TrumpRx.gov will not sell medicines directly. Instead, the website powered by GoodRx, according to reports redirects users to approved sellers offering discounted prices.
Novo Nordisk said the platform would expand access to its FDA-approved medicines, including Ozempic and Wegovy, at self-pay prices.
“We’re continuing to make it easier for people to access our authentic medicines through multiple, convenient options,” said Chris Pernie, Novo’s associate vice president for U.S. public affairs.
Savings still uncertain
Despite the fanfare, health policy experts have warned that savings may be limited, especially for people with insurance.
Because TrumpRx targets cash-paying consumers, purchases will generally not count toward insurance deductibles, potentially leaving insured patients with high out-of-pocket costs.
“There is a real question about the value of this for people with insurance,” said Juliette Cubanski, deputy director for Medicare policy at KFF. “In some cases, costs could still be unaffordable.”
Who benefits most?
Analysts say drugmakers may benefit significantly by bypassing insurers and selling directly to consumers, even at discounted prices.
“Selling a drug at a discount is better than no sale at all,” Cubanski said, adding that the programme should not be seen as a broad solution to America’s drug pricing crisis.
Other participating companies include Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Merck and GSK, with medicines listed on TrumpRx.gov ranging from diabetes and asthma treatments to cholesterol, fertility and hepatitis C drugs.
