The Trump administration is brewing a prescription drug direct sales platform: bypassing pharmacies to promote a decrease in drug prices

The Trump administration is discussing the creation of a prescription drug direct sales platform to help patients purchase discounted prescription drugs directly from pharmaceutical companies. On September 19, media reports indicated that U.S. government officials are discussing the creation of a website that may be named after President Trump, making it easier for patients to purchase discounted prescription drugs directly from pharmaceutical companies. The report cited informed sources revealing that "TrumpRx" is one of the brand names under consideration. The website will serve as a bridge between patients and drug sales platforms, allowing users to search for specific medications and obtain relevant purchasing channels, aiming to achieve direct drug sales and bypass traditional pharmacy channels. A spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services stated that the agency is committed to implementing President Trump's directive to lower prescription drug prices, ensuring that Americans can access medications at fairer and more transparent prices. However, the plan has not yet been finalized, and discussions are ongoing. Pharmaceutical Giants Actively Respond to Direct Sales Model According to reports, in July, Trump sent letters to 17 major global pharmaceutical companies. The letter requested that pharmaceutical companies immediately lower the prices of existing drugs under the U.S. federal Medicaid program and ensure that the pricing of new drugs launched in the future aligns with overseas market levels, or face penalties. Another key requirement in Trump's letter was that companies should create platforms to sell some of the best-selling drugs that enjoy significant insurance discounts directly to patients or businesses, and the proposed "TrumpRx" website is a specific plan to achieve this requirement. It is noteworthy that this "direct-to-consumer" (DTC) model has received a positive response from some large pharmaceutical companies. Eli Lilly was the first to launch an innovative model allowing patients to obtain cheaper weight loss medications after consulting with doctors through telemedicine platforms. Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb launched new direct-to-consumer platforms for their blood thinner Eliquis after discussions with the White House this year. The direct sales project allows patients to bypass pharmacy benefit managers, as U.S. pharmaceutical companies believe these intermediaries reduce their revenues and affect patients' access to medications. Multi-Faceted Drug Price Control Strategy In a series of policies aimed at reshaping the pharmaceutical market, the U.S. government has also taken other regulatory measures. For example, the government announced stricter enforcement of regulations regarding drug advertisements on television and social media, attempting to curb marketing practices that may drive up demand. Additionally, to force companies to relocate more production lines back to the U.S., Trump has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 250% on imported drugs. From direct price negotiations and restructuring sales channels to advertising regulation and tariff threats, the U.S. government is compelling the pharmaceutical industry to restructure its operations and business models in the U.S. market