All articles tagged with #drug pricing
STAT found that TrumpRx markets deep cash discounts for about 43 brand-name drugs, but at least 18 of them have cheaper generics available on GoodRx or Cost Plus Drugs; TrumpRx only displays cash prices and does not sell medicines directly, highlighting that many savings come from generic options rather than the site’s claims.
The White House launched TrumpRx (trumprx.gov) to help uninsured Americans find discounted prices for high-cost, brand-name drugs. It doesn’t sell drugs directly; users browse discounted medicines and either receive coupons at pharmacies or are redirected to manufacturers’ sites. Discounts come from voluntary 'most favored nation' deals with 16 major drugmakers, but full terms are not public. Economists say the savings are likely modest and mainly increase price transparency; the platform could help those not covered by insurance, especially for lifestyle drugs like fertility or weight-loss treatments. Democrats criticize it as a vanity project and raise concerns about potential conflicts with BlinkRx and Trump family involvement; long-term impact remains uncertain.
TrumpRx’s price list shows many branded meds have cheaper generic alternatives: for example, Pristiq can be found for about $200 for 30 days, while generics cost under $30 and even as low as $16.65 on CostPlusDrugs. Experts warn the site may not benefit cash buyers and could steer patients toward pricier branded options, though the White House says it aims to offer the lowest-cost branded choices. Regulators note generics are generally safe and equivalent, though some critics point to FDA testing gaps highlighted by investigations.
President Trump unveiled TrumpRx, a direct-to-consumer site offering discounts on about 40 branded medicines from five major drugmakers with GoodRx backing; experts say savings may be muted for many since insurance plans and deductibles often yield lower costs, and pricing details remain unclear. The administration touts it as transformative, but critics warn it could curb competition and that broader Medicare drug-price negotiations would be more effective. A potential Express Scripts agreement could expand coverage if the regulatory environment allows, signaling that Congress may need to act to count purchases toward deductibles.
The White House announced TrumpRx, a direct-to-consumer hub that directs cash-paying patients to discounts offered by drugmakers on their own sites, as part of efforts to lower U.S. prescription costs. The site does not sell drugs itself and may not benefit insured patients who rely on coverage, but could help uninsured or underinsured access drugs not widely covered, such as obesity medications; participating makers include Lilly and Novo Nordisk, with prices advertised (e.g., Ozempic and Wegovy at about $350/month) amid broader debated savings, since actual prices often depend on rebates and payer contracts. The overall impact on out-of-pocket costs remains uncertain.
Medicare announced the next round of price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act, targeting Botox plus 14 other expensive drugs (including Trulicity) used for cancer, diabetes, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The negotiated prices, affecting about $27 billion in Medicare Part B and Part D spending, will take effect in 2028. Drugmakers can opt out, but historically none have; Part B covers clinic-administered drugs and Part D covers prescriptions.
The White House announced that 15 prescription drugs will be included in Medicare's price-negotiation program, a major move aimed at lowering U.S. prescription costs, disclosed during a rural health care event with the President and key health officials in attendance.
In back-to-back House hearings, major health-insurance CEOs faced bipartisan grilling over rising premiums, prior-authorization rules, and claim denials, with lawmakers scrutinizing the role of PBMs and drug costs while insurers defend pricing as reflecting broader cost pressures in the system and subsidies remaining a political flashpoint.
At the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference, pharma executives signaled that 2026 could begin a recovery as pricing deals reduce uncertainty and patent expirations drive more dealmaking; leaders from Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca and Pfizer outlined plans to offset price pressure with new products and BD activity, while vaccine policy shifts add political headwinds.
President Trump rolled out a so‑called “Great Healthcare Plan” that is more a set of familiar ideas than a real, detailed proposal: 350 words online with an 825‑word fact sheet and little in the way of numbers, specifics, or a clear path through Congress. The plan endorses moving some subsidies into health savings accounts and funding cost-sharing reductions, but the math could actually raise costs or reduce coverage for many Americans, and the CBO warns hundreds of thousands could drop coverage. GOP ambivalence and a lack of coordination with bipartisanship discussions further undermine any sense of a serious bill. Critics say the plan amounts to publicity rather than policy, and the broader challenge remains tackling drug prices and reform through genuine legislative effort, not marketing hype.
Trump unveiled a comprehensive health-care blueprint aimed at enshrining his executive actions into law, pressuring Congress to codify drug-price deals (including most-favored-nation provisions), expand price transparency for insurers and providers, fund cost-sharing reductions, and launch a consumer-focused discount site, while Republicans remain divided over subsidies and abortion provisions and critics warn the plan may struggle to pass.
The Trump administration rolled out a broad healthcare plan dubbed The Great Healthcare Plan aimed at lowering ACA costs, including direct payments to individuals and expanded health-savings options, while promising to allow Congress to shape details; however, critics warn the plan lacks specifics and could destabilize ACA marketplaces, with no clear timeline for implementation.
At the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference, Novo Nordisk signals 2026 will bring price pressure as GLP-1 supply grows and pricing deals take effect, even as it pushes the Wegovy oral pill and expands the incretin market. Bristol Myers Squibb projects up to 10 new products by 2030 to counter upcoming exclusivity losses, while Pfizer insists it is “all in on obesity” and plans multiple late‑stage obesity studies tied to Metsera. The conference also features news such as Lilly and Nvidia jointly funding an AI drug‑discovery lab and AbbVie striking a price‑reduction deal with the Trump administration plus a RemeGen cancer-therapy license.
AbbVie and the Trump administration announced a three-year agreement to boost U.S. access and affordability: AbbVie will offer low Medicaid prices, expand direct-to-patient access via the TrumpRx program for medicines including ALPHAGAN, COMBIGAN, HUMIRA and SYNTHROID, and commit $100 billion in U.S.-based R&D and manufacturing investments over the next decade, in exchange for tariff relief and exemption from future price mandates; the deal aims to address all four of the President's drug pricing priorities, with terms kept confidential.
The upcoming JPMorgan Healthcare Conference will showcase industry updates on drug pipelines, M&A activity, and the impact of recent drug pricing deals, with a focus on managing patent expirations, obesity treatments, and potential new drug developments from major pharma companies like Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly.