Trump, Pfizer announce ‘TrumpRx’ following tariff exemption deal
Multinational pharmaceutical company Pfizer has reached a deal with President Donald Trump’s administration that will permit the company to sell its drugs direct-to-consumers through a new website—but the details are a little fuzzy.
Trump made the announcement, adding that the webstore will be named after him and dubbed “TrumpRx.” Other drug companies, Trump said, are currently negotiating to join TrumpRx as well.
As part of the deal, Pfizer will be exempt from tariffs placed on foreign manufactured pharmaceuticals and biotechnology for a period of three years. Those tariffs are expected to go into effect on Wednesday.
Trump said TrumpRx.com, which is currently not online, will be owned and operated by the federal government. He made the announcement from the Oval Office, alongside HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Albert Bourla, PhD, the CEO of Pfizer.
“This is a really big announcement,” Trump said. “This is something that most people said was not doable.”
As for how it will all work—that’s not clear. While the administration said the website will lower drug prices for Medicaid patients, the Wall Street Journal reported that the drugs can be purchased with cash, implying the website is targeted at those without healthcare coverage. That would be in line with the “direct-to-consumer” branding mentioned by Trump, which was later clarified by a spokesperson with the White House to mean that TrumpRx will be available to all Americans.
The administration also confirmed in a call with journalists that the federal government will not be selling drugs directly. Instead, Americans who log on will be sent to portals that allow them to buy from the manufacturer.
Tremendous discounts
For now, the only confirmed manufacturer on the website is Pfizer. Per the agreement, a large number of its primary care drugs will be made available at a discounted rate. The company said most discounts will range from 50% to 85% off the sticker price.
Pfizer also stated that it will invest an additional $70 billion to research and develop drugs in the U.S., presumably as part of its deal to avoid Trump’s tariffs.
Notably, Bloomberg was the first to break the news about the TrumpRx website earlier this month, citing people familiar with the deal.
This is a developing story.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.