Let me put this on the record: I do not believe that TrumpRx -- or “pharm to table” efforts more generally -- are likely to solve fundamental issues with drug access or affordability. I don’t think that TrumpRx is delivering on its promise to help users “find the world’s lowest prices on prescription drugs.”
But direct-to-patient approaches are useful in more narrow cases.
They give another option for those experiencing access issues. And even if not a single script moves through these platforms, having a clear, public price boosts transparency. (I detailed some of these pros in this Health Affairs Forefront piece with Peter Neumann back in December.)
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The medicines listed on TrumpRx, specifically, illuminate where direct-to-patient approaches may benefit drug manufacturers. The 50+ medicines on the site say something about where the market is going.
Understanding those dynamics requires an understanding of the characteristics of the medicines on the TrumpRx list, so I have built out the most complete accounting of the TrumpRx: the TrumpRx Tracker.
That tool provides details on each drug, including pricing data, exclusivity status, annual sales for 2025 and estimated sales for 2026, and corresponding prices at Mark Cuban Cost Plus drugs.
A look at the Tracker suggests there are at least five different categories of medicines on TrumpRx:
Medicines that are often not covered by insurance, where there is a demand for cash-pay options. This is where obesity meds and fertility drugs sit, and this is the most natural direct-to-patient play.
Medicines that may not have broad formulary coverage, where a direct-to-patient option might help a small group of patients who struggle with access. These medicines generally have low or falling sales numbers, where TrumpRx has the potential to prompt a marginal bump in sales.
Medicines that have generic versions (or may soon lose exclusivity). It’s not clear how large the market is for branded versions of genericized medicines or what the benefit is to manufacturers who offer such medicines on TrumpRx, but it has the effect of making TrumpRx appear to be a more vibrant hub.
Medicines where there may be no cash-pay market, but where advertising a low direct-to-patient price might add beneficial transparency to the system.
Biosimilar versions of name-brand drugs.
Every column on the TrumpRx Tracker is sortable, and numeric columns are color-coded to make trends more apparent.
Curious to hear about any patterns that emerge when you look at the data.
Cost Curve is produced by Reid Strategic, a consultancy that helps companies and organizations in life sciences communicate more clearly and more loudly about issues of value, access, and pricing. We offer a range of services, from strategic planning to tactical execution, designed to shatter the complexity that hampers constructive conversations.
To learn more about how Reid Strategic can help you, email Brian Reid at [email protected].
