On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced a groundbreaking deal. It will make fertility drugs much cheaper for American families who are having trouble getting pregnant. Through TrumpRx, a new government-run drug platform, that will launch in January 2026, the deal with the pharmaceutical company EMD Serono will make three important IVF drugs available. These drugs will be offered at discounts of more than 70%.
Prices for fertility treatments are at their lowest ever
The deal includes three important fertility drugs made by EMD Serono. This is the US branch of Germany’s Merck KGaA. The drugs are Gonal-F, Ovidrel, and Cetrotide. TrumpRx.gov will make these drugs, which now cost about $5,000 per IVF cycle, available at much lower prices.
“EMD Serono will put their fertility drugs online at TrumpRx.gov at prices that are so low, you won’t believe them,” Trump said. He was standing next to Alabama Senator Katie Britt and Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Investment in Manufacturing and Lower Tariffs
The pharmaceutical deal gives EMD Serono tariff breaks. This is in exchange for more money spent on research and manufacturing in the United States. Belén Garijo, CEO of Merck KGaA, promised to work with the government for a long time. The aim is to ensure that patients can still get new treatments.
Officials from the administration also said that the company might get a faster FDA review for another fertility drug. This drug is planned to be sold in the US as part of the deal.
Insurance Coverage and Employer Involvement
Trump told employers to offer optional add-on insurance plans, like dental or vision coverage. This is to make IVF more widely available. However, the plan doesn’t require coverage. This is different from his campaign promise in August 2024 to provide free IVF treatment to everyone, paid for by the government or insurance companies.
Officials in the administration were hopeful that employers would voluntarily offer IVF coverage. They pointed out that 60% of women aged 30 to 44 get health insurance through their jobs. This means there is a lot of room for growth.
The medical community had mixed feelings about it
Experts in reproductive medicine gave the plan some cautious praise but also raised concerns about its flaws. Dr. Serena Chen, who is in charge of advocacy at CCRM Fertility IRMS Reproductive Medicine, was happy about the 84% discount. However, she wondered why there were no federal insurance requirements and coverage for drugs made by Organon and Ferring. These are two other companies that compete with CCRM.
Dr. David Sable, a former reproductive endocrinologist, said that the CDC’s layoffs in April got rid of a vital six-person team. This team was keeping an eye on assisted fertility procedures and factors that affect pregnancy success. He stressed, “If you make IVF free tomorrow or require coverage, you need an infrastructure and ecosystem that can actually care for all these patients.”
The Real Cost of IVF Treatment
The drug pricing agreement only covers one part of fertility treatment. IVF procedures usually cost between $20,000 and $30,000 per cycle. Medication is only a small part of the total cost. The program aligns with Trump’s February executive order, which promised more access to IVF and lower costs. However, there are still big problems with making it affordable for everyone.
