RAHWAY, N.J. – Merck has reached a landmark agreement with the Trump administration to make its prescription medicines more accessible and affordable for Americans. This partnership reinforces Merck’s long-standing commitment to developing and delivering life-changing medicines and vaccines, while ensuring that patients can access these innovations at lower costs.
“As an American company, Merck is proud to work with the Trump administration to further secure our country’s position as a world leader in biopharmaceutical innovation. Today’s agreement marks a pivotal step in ensuring Americans can access medicines they need at lower costs,” said Robert Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. “For too long, global pricing imbalances have shifted the financial burden of groundbreaking research and development onto the U.S. health care system and ultimately, American patients. Merck remains committed to expanding access and improving affordability across the system.”
Bill Schiffner
The company is working with the administration to reduce disparities in drug prices between the U.S. and other nations so American patients no longer shoulder a disproportionate share of the cost of innovation. Merck is voluntarily addressing all four components of the president’s July letter and taking steps that will help ensure Americans can benefit from lower prices and broader access to prescription medicines.
Merck’s agreement with the administration
Merck plans to provide key products through a direct-to-patient program at affordable prices to eligible patients in the U.S. This currently includes JANUVIA, JANUMET, and JANUMET XR, and will be expanded in the future to include elicitide decanoate following FDA approval.
JANUVIA, JANUMET and JANUMET XR will be available to eligible American patients at a cash price — approximately 70% off of the current list price — through a direct-to-patient program.
Enlicitide, a novel candidate to lower LDL cholesterol, was designed to deliver PCSK9 antibody-like efficacy in an easy-to-use daily pill. Although existing injectable PCSK9 inhibitors are effective, they remain widely underused. The cardiovascular (CV) epidemic is the leading cause of deaths in America, with heart attacks and stroke contributing to most of the CV deaths — one person dies every 36 seconds from cardiovascular disease. If approved, we intend to make enlicitide broadly available as an affordable option for American patients to help address the CV epidemic.
Additionally, the company reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce to delay Section 232 tariffs for 3 years, enabling it to invest in the United States to reshore manufacturing for American patients.
