President Trump announces a contract with Pfizer to sell his drugs on the federal website: NPR

And Martínez, host:

President Trump says that he complies with his promise to reduce drug prices for Americans. He announced a contract with Pfizer on Tuesday and also announced a new government website called Trumprx. The correspondent of NPR Pharmaceuticals, Sydney Lupkin, follows it. Hey, Sydney. What is in this deal?

Sydney Lupkin, Byline: The most lively part is that Pfizer sells its medication such as Xeljanz for rheumatoid arthritis directly to consumers with a discount. Consumers could access the offers via a website called Trumprx. Trump spoke to bringing drug prices in line with the payments of other industrialized countries and paying these other countries in such a way, which he calls a fair share. Here is Trump at the press conference.

(Soundbite of the archived recording)

President Donald Trump: The United States subsidy the health care of the rest of the world. It’s a big deal. This is – I can’t tell you how big it is.

Lupkin: The business also includes discounts for Medicaid and a promise from Pfizer to sell new medication in the United States at the same price as in other industrialized countries. According to Trump, similar shops with other drug makers are in the works.

Martínez: How did President Trump get drug makers to get to the table?

Lupkin: Yes. It began with an executive order in May with what the President describes the most preferred nation drug prices. That would link the US prices with those elsewhere. In the summer he increased the use with letters to 17 drugmakers who had 60 days to create plans and then came with negotiations with closed doors. During the press conference, the Health Minister Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reporters announced that the negotiations went late into the night. The CEO of Pfizer, Albert Bourla, was also at the press conference. He said this deal was bound by a three-year graceful period, and he added that Zölle was “the most powerful instrument to motivate behaviors”. So it is clear that the threat of you played a role here, although the many details of the deal are not public.

Martínez: Ok. But what would that mean for consumers?

Lupkin: You know, many of them will probably not notice any difference. Here is AMEET Sarpatwari, an expert in drug policy at the Harvard Medical School.

AMEET Sarpatwari: I think there is more window cladding than the transformation reforms needed to really relieve Americans who are struggling with high prices.

Lupkin: In Medicaid, for example, the beneficiaries already pay very little or nothing for drugs, and it is not yet clear how much money the Medicaid part of the deal would save the taxpayer. With regard to Trumprx, the direct-to-consumer prices mean that consumers do not use their health insurance. While the average prices can decrease by trumprx by 50%, this is still 50% on a large number, and it may still be unaffordable. Insurance copas could be cheaper. But if someone needs a medication that is not covered by insurance and is offered on Trumprx, this can be an option.

Martínez: okay. When should Trumprx get started?

Lupkin: Yes. The Trumprx.gov website is scheduled to come onto the market in early 2026, and the new Medicaid prices should be effective at about the same time. The promise to start new medication at the same price in the United States as abroad is an ongoing process. In fact, some other companies have already said that they will do that. For example, Bristol Myers Squibb says that his new schizophrenia medication in Great Britain is sold at the same price as here, but that will not save American patients.

Martínez: NPR Pharmaceutical Sydney Lupkin. Thank you.

Lupkin: bet.

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