President Donald Trump unveiled a groundbreaking agreement that promises to dramatically reduce the financial burden of fertility treatments for American families seeking to have children.
Speaking from the Oval Office, the president revealed his administration successfully negotiated a deal with EMD Serono, the United States division of German pharmaceutical giant Merck, to reduce prices on in-vitro fertilization medications by as much as 84 percent.
The announcement represents a significant development for families struggling with infertility across the nation.
Trump indicated his administration would soon release guidance encouraging employers to provide fertility benefits directly to their workforce.
“We’ll dramatically slash the cost of IVF and the treatment and many of the most common fertility drugs for countless millions of Americans,” Trump stated during the press conference.
The president emphasized the broader implications of the agreement.
“This will make all fertility care far more affordable and accessible,” he said.
Trump pointed to the potential health benefits for American families.
“The result will be healthier pregnancies, healthier babies and many more beautiful American children,” he added.
The initiative addresses a widespread challenge facing American couples.
Approximately 10 million women across the United States experience difficulties conceiving, according to current estimates.
The financial barrier remains substantial, with a single IVF cycle averaging around $25,000, placing it beyond reach for many couples.
The challenge extends beyond initial costs.
Many couples require multiple IVF rounds before achieving a successful pregnancy.
Data from 2023 shows approximately 432,000 IVF cycles performed nationwide, resulting in 95,860 births.
Roughly one in five cycles leads to a live birth, the Daily Mail outlined.
Trump projected significant savings for consumers.
“As a result of these actions, the per cycle cost of drugs used in IVF will fall by an estimated 73 percent for American consumers, and the numbers are going to actually be very substantially higher as time goes by,” the president explained.
The partnership with EMD Serono restructures how fertility medications reach consumers.
Under the new arrangement, the manufacturer will sell medications directly to patients at reduced prices through TrumpRx, a federal website established for this purpose.
Three major IVF medications receive reduced pricing under the agreement.
Merck stated patients would see an overall discount of 84 percent on these treatments.
Gonal-f represents one of the key medications affected by the deal.
This drug stimulates the ovaries to release eggs during early IVF stages.
Current out-of-pocket pricing through GoodRx shows approximately $2,400 per dose in America, compared to roughly $300 in European markets.
Additional medications covered include Ovidrel and Cetrotide.
Ovidrel is administered just before egg retrieval during IVF procedures.
Cetrotide prevents premature egg release during the treatment cycle.
The president announced the Food and Drug Administration would collaborate with EMD Serono to accelerate approval of Pergoveris, another fertility medication currently available in Europe.
This drug stimulates follicle growth in women, producing sacs containing immature eggs necessary for IVF procedures.
Several key administration officials joined Trump for the announcement. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Junior, FDA head Dr. Marty Makary, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and other officials involved in the cost-reduction initiative stood alongside the president.
