Trump Launches TrumpRx.gov to Cut Drug Prices Tonight

President Donald Trump will launch TrumpRx.gov tonight at 7 p.m. ET from the White House. The website aims to connect Americans directly to drug makers for cash purchases of prescription medicines at reduced prices. This move is part of Trump's push to make health care more affordable by cutting out middlemen in the drug supply chain. The launch comes as costs for many drugs remain a burden for families across the country.

Background

Trump has long called for lower drug prices. During his first term and now in his second, he has targeted what he sees as unfair pricing where Americans pay more than people in other countries. The idea for TrumpRx grew from earlier efforts like the Most Favored Nation policy, which seeks to match U.S. prices to the lowest in peer nations for Medicaid drugs.

The direct-to-consumer model is not new. Mark Cuban started Cost Plus Drug Company in 2022 to sell generic drugs straight to buyers. Eli Lilly launched LillyDirect in early 2024, and Novo Nordisk followed with NovoCare. These services gained traction, especially for obesity drugs often not covered by insurance. Novo Nordisk said self-pay prescriptions for Wegovy make up about 30 percent of its total. Eli Lilly reported more than one million patients used LillyDirect in 2025.

Trump's team built on this trend. They negotiated with drug companies, some facing tariffs until they agreed to join. The site does not sell drugs itself. It acts as a clearinghouse, linking patients to makers willing to offer cash discounts. At least 16 companies signed on, including big names like Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Merck, Novartis, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, and Sanofi. Deals started coming in September, with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk agreeing in November to price obesity drugs near $150 a month.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the launch details. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and National Design Studio Director Joe Gebbia will join Trump for the event.

"This historic announcement will save millions of Americans money," Leavitt said.

Key Details

TrumpRx.gov goes live tonight. Users will find discounted cash prices on select drugs. Examples include Eli Lilly's Zepbound and Novo Nordisk's Wegovy at $149 monthly, Amgen's Repatha cholesterol drug at $239 monthly, and Merck's Januvia diabetes pill at $100. EMD Serono also cut prices on fertility drugs in October.

The site skips insurance. Buyers pay cash directly to makers, aiming to avoid pharmacy benefit managers who add costs. This works best for those without coverage for certain drugs or facing high deductibles. But savings vary. Co-pays often beat cash prices after deductibles are met.

A key issue is how these payments affect insurance. Express Scripts, owned by Cigna, settled with the Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday over insulin pricing claims. The deal requires it to count TrumpRx cash payments toward deductibles and out-of-pocket limits, if laws or rules change.

Participating Companies and Drugs

The 16 makers cover a range of treatments. Pfizer and others joined after Most Favored Nation talks. Obesity drugs lead the list because many plans exclude them. Medicare gets separate negotiated discounts through direct talks.

Trump sees this as a win for his approval amid cost-of-living worries before midterms. He ties it to broader goals like fairer pricing without hurting drug innovation.

What This Means

TrumpRx could change how some Americans get medicines. For uninsured patients or those with gaps in coverage, cash deals at $149 for Wegovy or Zepbound beat street prices. It pressures insurers and middlemen to lower fees. If more companies join, options grow.

Limits exist. Not all drugs qualify. Savings depend on your insurance and drug. Insurers may not count payments everywhere, slowing wide use. Broader policies like Most Favored Nation face court fights and need Congress.

Patients should check the site after launch. Doctors can guide if cash buys fit their needs. The platform tests if government-led direct sales scale up private efforts like Cuban's. Trump plans more steps on drug costs, building on this start.

For now, millions watch tonight's event. It marks a direct challenge to high U.S. prices, where drugs cost more than abroad. Families paying hundreds monthly for basics may find relief. Others with good insurance might stick to co-pays. The real test comes in coming months as users report back and numbers show uptake.