Democratic Health Committee Leaders Blast TrumpRx for Ties to Donors and Family & Question Cost Savings

House and Senate Democratic Health Committee leaders wrote to the Trump Administration as well as the private company BlinkRx today raising serious questions regarding the newly announced “TrumpRx” direct-to-consumer (DTC) platform, which may be structured to benefit pharmaceutical companies and enrich the president’s friends while doing little to meaningfully lower prescription drug prices for Americans.   

The letters were signed by House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA), and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR).  

“We are deeply concerned that this DTC platform, centralized through TrumpRx.gov, will be yet another Administration action that enriches companies and industries with close ties to President Trump while doing nothing to reduce the excessively high costs of prescription drugs for Americans,” the Democratic Committee Leaders wrote in their letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. 

On September 30, the Trump Administration announced it was creating TrumpRx, and that a pricing agreement had been reached with Pfizer to sell its drugs at prices “in line with the lower rates paid by other developed countries.” A similar agreement with AstraZeneca was announced on October 10 while other pharmaceutical companies have made public statements about their intended participation in TrumpRx.

To date, the Administration has withheld the terms of the pricing agreements with Pfizer and AstraZeneca from the public. The federal government has never been involved in the direct sale of prescription drugs in this way, and the Committee leaders voiced concern about whether this platform can guarantee that consumers will pay lower prices due to the Administration’s complete lack of transparency about how such prices will be calculated and evaluated.  

“Without more transparency, we cannot properly oversee the development and effectiveness of a new government prescription drug purchasing platform and the alleged price reductions,” the Democratic Committee leaders continued in their letter.  “We are disappointed that the Administration has, once again, not been forthcoming about its plans with Congress or the public about a major announcement that claims to affect the affordability of health care for the American people.”  

The Democrats also wrote to the CEO of BlinkRx regarding concerns the company may be coordinating with the Trump Administration—an eyebrow-raising conflict of interest given Trump’s son sits on the company’s board of directors and whose investment fund recently raised $140 million dollars for the company. 

 “BlinkRx is promoting to pharmaceutical companies to establish DTC online platforms that would allow them to comply with President Trump’s demands,” the Democrats wrote to BlinkRx’s CEO. “We also note that President Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., joined the BlinkRx Board of Directors earlier this year. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Trump Jr.’s investment fund, 1789 Capital, led a $140 million Series D financing round for BlinkRx. The timing of the BlinkRx announcement so closely following the Administration’s outreach to the largest drug companies, and the involvement of President Trump’s immediate family, raises questions about potential coordination, influence, and self-dealing.”  

As part of their letters, the Democrats requested answers to a series of questions, including: 

• When will the TrumpRx website be operational and what federal agency or operating division will be responsible for managing the website?
• What prescription drugs will be available through TrumpRx? 
• Who is responsible for deciding what drugs can be purchased through the platform? 
• Will any of these agreements affect in any way access to the FDA’s Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher Pilot Program?
• Did any individual from or on behalf of BlinkRx participate in discussions with any member of the Trump Administration regarding the September 30, TrumpRx announcement?
• Has Donald Trump, Jr. ever recused himself from a BlinkRx board vote, discussion, or any other matter for any reason?  

Read the letter to the Trump Administration HERE. 

Read the letter to BlinkRx HERE. 

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