President Donald Trump announced Thursday new measures aimed at expanding access to in vitro fertilization, commonly called IVF.
“For years, American couples struggling with infertility have faced crushing costs in their quest to start a family, and IVF is among the most expensive treatments of all,” Trump said, later adding, “A major reason for these high prices is the excessive cost of the drugs involved.”
He announced that his administration was making a deal with pharmaceutical company EMD Serono to reduce the cost of fertility medications. The company agreed to discount its fertility drugs, including its most popular, Gonal-F, which helps both men and women with infertility.
It’s a major move by the Trump administration after the president promised to address IVF access while campaigning last year. Shortly after taking office, Trump signed an executive order on IVF, promising to lower costs and expand access to the procedure, but did not provide specifics until now.
“The No. 1 fertility drug used in IVF is currently 700% more expensive in the United States than the rest of the world,” he said. “And, you know, we’re ending all of that.”
It’s an expansion on the Trump administration’s efforts to bring down some medical costs. In July, Trump gave drugmakers a deadline to commit to the “Most Favored Nation” pricing plan and lower costs. The White House is rolling out a new website called “TrumpRx,” which will allow Americans to purchase medications, with some up to 80% discounted.
He was joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, EMD Serono U.S. Fertility and Endocrinology Senior Vice President Libby Horne, Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, and others.
The announcement and heightened investment into IVF began in early 2024, when the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos used in IVF are considered children, sparking bipartisan outrage and efforts to protect the fertility treatment.
“We want to make it easier for all couples to have babies, raise children, and start the families they’ve always dreamed about,” Trump said from the Oval Office.
