Trump and Merck KGaA Partner to Slash IVF Drug Costs and Expand Fertility Coverage

U.S. President Donald Trump and German pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA have announced a groundbreaking deal aimed at lowering the cost of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments while boosting access to fertility care in the United States. Under the agreement, Merck’s U.S. arm, EMD Serono, will offer significant discounts—up to 84% off the list price—on fertility drugs including Gonal-f, Ovidrel, and Cetrotide. These medications, when used together for IVF, could save families an estimated $2,200 per cycle.

As part of the deal, Merck will also sell its fertility drugs directly to consumers through a new government-backed website, TrumpRX, launching in early 2026. The initiative follows Trump’s February executive order to expand access to IVF and reduce associated costs, with IVF procedures typically ranging from $12,000 to $25,000 per cycle.

In exchange for tariff exemptions on certain pharmaceuticals, Merck agreed to invest in U.S. research and manufacturing. Trump also stated that Merck would price all new drugs launched in the U.S. at the same rates offered in other developed nations, part of a broader effort to curb high drug prices for American patients.

Merck KGaA, one of the world’s leading producers of fertility treatments, reported $973 million in sales from Gonal-f last year. The company also plans to seek expedited FDA approval for its fertility drug Pergoveris under the new National Priority Voucher program, potentially reducing review times to as little as one month.

Additionally, the administration plans to allow supplemental insurance plans for fertility treatments and will issue guidance encouraging small businesses to offer infertility coverage. While participation remains voluntary and unsubsidized, the policy is expected to make IVF coverage more accessible for U.S. workers.