Trump Administration Cuts IVF Drug Costs
“`html
Trump Administration Announces Deal to Lower Fertility Medication costs
Drugmaker EMD Serono will reduce the cost of a common fertility medication under a deal with the Trump administration, President Donald Trump announced on Thursday, while also unveiling new federal guidance aimed at encouraging employers to offer fertility coverage.
The guidance will allow companies to offer fertility benefits separately from major medical insurance plans – similar to dental and vision cover – Trump said.
“We want to make it easier for all couples to have babies raise children and start the families they have always dreamed about,” he added.
The Oval Office announcement provides a first look at how Trump plans to implement his executive order earlier this year aimed at reducing the cost of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) – a medical procedure that helps peopel facing infertility build their families. Though, it falls short of his campaign promise to make IVF treatment free. It marks the third recent deal the administration has struck with pharmaceutical companies to cut drug prices.
EMD Serono’s Gonal-f is among several drugs commonly used in IVF treatments - which involve using hormones to trigger ovulation and produce multiple eggs for fertilisation or freezing. these medications can cost patients thousands of dollars per cycle – and many individuals undergo more than one cycle.
Read moreGlobal fertility rate to shrink by the end of the century, study says
The White House and EMD Serono said the drug - along with all other IVF medications – will be available at a discount through TrumpRx, a government website where patients can purchase drugs directly from manufacturers. The administration expects the website – which is planned to launch in 2026 – to reduce costs by bypassing intermediaries.
Trump also said the Food and Drug Administration will work with EMD Serono to expedite approval of another fertility drug available in Europe - called pergoveris.
Understanding the Cost of Fertility treatments
The cost of IVF and related medications is a significant barrier to access for many individuals and couples. A single IVF cycle, including medication, can range