TrumpRx promises cheap drugs for the US ― but how cheap?

The US government has launched its drug discounting program "TrumpRx," which it says will dramatically cut prescription medication prices for consumers.

It comes amid debate about cost-of-living in the US during a midterm election year. The November 2026 poll is seen as a referendum on the president's popularity, with Donald Trump's early-year approval among his lowest polling numbers ever with independent voters.

Trump has made a point of strong-arming pharmaceutical manufacturers since returning to the White House in January 2025. 

The deals his administration has struck with companies — which are being called "Most-Favored-Nation pricing" — will "ensure Americans pay prices aligned with the lowest in other developed nations, ending decades of overpayment and delivering immediate relief," according to a White House press statement released on Friday.

Currently, the program predominantly, but not exclusively, lists products from Pfizer.

It's unclear if TrumpRx pricing will affect prices in other nations. The website has used a comparison with Canada to make its point that Americans would pay less than their neighbors, listing Gonal-F, a fertility treatment, at $252 per unit, compared to $355 in Canada.

Though the Trump administration is talking up its efforts to bring prices down, it's uncertain whether the majority of US residents will see major benefit to their pocketbooks.

The program, said Matthew Klebanoff, a physician and health researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, is a step forward for Americans, but more is required.

"We need a more fundamental overhaul of how we set drug prices in the US. Right now, drug manufacturers can set prices to whatever the market will bear," Klebanoff told DW.

How does the TrumpRx program work?

TrumpRx is not an online pharmacy, and consumers cannot purchase their prescriptions through the service.

Instead, it operates akin to a product catalog that directs consumers to licensed stockists.

Consumers can redeem a coupon provided though the service to receive a discount on their out-of-pocket costs.

Many of the coupons bear the group name MAHA, the acronym of the Make America Healthy Again campaign led by Trump's health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

From weight loss injections to fertility drugs

Some of the most in-demand prescriptions appear to be covered by the service, including weight management products like Wegovy and Zepbound, as well as the weight loss inducing diabetes drug Ozempic.

Drugs that treat menopause, depression, smoking addiction, kidney disease, thyroid issues, high cholesterol, heart conditions, HIV and diabetes have all been listed.

As well as Gonal-F, other fertility drugs like Cetrotide and Ovidrel are also offered at a discount by the program. The list prompted Mehmet Oz, Trump's administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,  to declare at the service launch that the US would "have a lot of Trump babies with these costs."

Who in the US is likely to benefit?

But it's unclear whether the majority of US consumers who are covered by work health insurance will see significant savings as part of the program.

In October 2025 when the program was announced, health economists speaking to The Wall Street Journal noted nine in 10 Americans covered by workplace health insurance policies would likely save more by going through their coverage provider.

TrumpRx also acknowledges this with a note on product listings saying "If you have insurance, check your co-pay first — it may be even lower."

"For insured patients, their copays or coinsurance will usually be cheaper than TrumpRx prices," said Klebanoff.

"And when patients purchase medication outside of their insurance plan, that spending doesn’t count toward their deductible or out-of-pocket maximum, which means they could end up spending more over the course of a year."

The pharmaceuticals advertised are also limited to brand drugs, and consumers may be able to purchase generic equivalents at a cheaper price.

"The site includes some brand name drugs that already have cheap, generic alternatives. For example, Protonix, a reflux medication, is listed at $200 per month, but the generic version costs roughly $10," said Klebanoff.

Drugmakers join up to avoid Trump tariffs

Pharmaceutical makers participating in the program were at risk of having Trump extend import tariffs on their products. Those who have joined have avoided border penalties, in exchange for the TrumpRx program bringing product prices down to levels comparable to other high-income nations.

The "Most-Favored-Nation" scheme means US consumers should pay no more than people in these comparison countries, which the Department of Health and Human Services equated to the lowest price paid by people in OECD countries with at least 60% of the US' per capita gross domestic product.

On current data, that pool of countries includes Luxembourg, Ireland, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Austria, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Canada, Israel, the UK and Finland.

Pfizer, the first drugmaker to join the program, said in a September 2025 statement that it had voluntarily entered the program in exchange for "a three-year grace period during which time Pfizer products […] won't face tariffs."

That's also contingent on Pfizer investing further in US manufacturing of its products.

Edited by: Carla Bleiker