US citizens might soon be able to buy medicines at lower prices, thanks to a new initiative announced by President Donald Trump. The plan involves a website called TrumpRx, which is expected to launch in early 2026.
What Is TrumpRx?
The federal government is partnering with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, allowing the company to sell its medicines directly to consumers at discounted rates. Trump also hinted that more such deals with other pharma companies are on the way.
This announcement comes shortly after Trump imposed a 100% tariff on branded medicines imported into the US.
What Did Trump Say?
The announcement was made at the Oval Office, where Trump appeared alongside Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. “The United States is done subsidising the health care of the rest of the world,” Trump said. “By taking this bold step, we’re ending the era of global price gouging at the expense of American families.”
Bourla supported the move, saying, “I think today we are turning the tide, and we are reversing an unfair situation.”
How Will Pricing Work?
Trump claimed that medicines on TrumpRx will be sold at “Most Favoured Nation” pricing — meaning Americans will pay the same rate as consumers in other developed countries like Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, Switzerland, and Denmark.
This “net price” already includes discounts and subsidies. The goal is to ensure that Americans are not paying higher prices than people abroad — something Trump had tried to implement during his first presidential term.
In May, he even signed an executive order pushing drugmakers to lower prices and warned, “If you refuse to step up, we will deploy every tool in our arsenal to protect American families from continued abusive drug pricing practices.”
How Will the Website Function?
TrumpRx itself won’t sell or ship medicines directly. Instead, users will search for a medicine on the site and then be redirected to Pfizer’s direct sales platform.
Pfizer said it plans to offer up to 50% discounts on key drugs. In return, the company will receive a three-year exemption from certain pharma tariffs and will boost manufacturing within the US.
However, one White House official clarified that only people not using health insurance will be able to buy through TrumpRx. Those with insurance might still get better prices at local pharmacies.
Also Read: Trump Launches ‘TrumpRx’ Website & Pfizer Cuts Medicine Prices for Americans
Potential Challenges
Experts are doubtful about how effective the plan will be. Unlike many other countries that have government-controlled healthcare pricing, the US relies on market competition, making it harder to enforce uniform pricing.
There is also concern that drugmakers may raise prices in other countries instead of lowering them in the US.
What Do Analysts Think?
Health policy experts are not impressed. Many of the drugs listed — such as Duavee (for menopause), Eucrisa (for skin inflammation), Toviaz (for overactive bladder), Abrilada and Xeljanz (for autoimmune conditions) — are expensive and not commonly prescribed.
For instance, Xeljanz costs around $6,000 (₹5.32 lakh) per month, and cheaper generic versions are expected soon.
Ameet Sarpatwari of Harvard Medical School told NPR, “I think it’s more underwhelming than what the president is touting.”“I think it’s more window dressing than the transformational sort of reforms that are needed to really provide relief to Americans struggling with high prices.”
Chris Meekins, a health policy researcher at Raymond James, added, “New Trump drug website is likely irrelevant as few will pay out of pocket” unless insurance policies change.
“If this is all that President Trump does on drug pricing, it is likely a win for the pharmaceutical industry,” he said.
Still, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr strongly backed Trump, “Never has a president stood up so bravely for the American people with respect to health care,” Kennedy said.
And Bourla reaffirmed his support, “The president is absolutely right, tariffs is the most powerful tool to motivate behaviours.”
