President Trump’s TrumpRx.gov: Mark Cuban Grades New Direct-to-Consumer Drug Site a ‘B’ Ahead of 2026 Launch

President Donald Trump’s administration has unveiled ambitious plans for a new direct-to-consumer online drug store, TrumpRx.gov, with an anticipated launch in 2026. The initiative, announced recently on Tuesday, aims to revolutionize prescription drug access by enabling consumers to purchase medications directly from manufacturers, effectively bypassing Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) who act as intermediaries.

Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban, founder of the successful Cost Plus Drugs, has weighed in on the proposal, assigning it a provisional grade of “B.” While acknowledging the potential benefits for patients and even a possible boost for his own similar venture, Cuban expressed significant reservations. He highlighted the fact that PBM stock prices remained largely unaffected, suggesting that the system, in his view, remains “rigged” to their advantage with little expectation of fundamental change. “Why not an A? The stock prices of PBMs didn’t get crushed,” Cuban commented on X, implying that PBMs might find ways to recoup any lost revenues elsewhere. He believes the program’s true success hinges on its ability to genuinely force PBMs to adapt, in which case, he conceded, Trump would deserve full credit.

Adding weight to the announcement, the White House confirmed that pharmaceutical giant Pfizer plans to offer a selection of its drugs on TrumpRx.gov, alongside providing all its Medicaid drugs at reduced rates. This strategic partnership grants Pfizer a three-year exemption from tariffs. The company projects significant savings for consumers, with discounts ranging as high as 85% and averaging 50% on many of its primary care treatments and select specialty brands.

Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs, launched in 2022, operates on a comparable model, eliminating intermediaries to offer drugs with a transparent 15% markup over the manufacturer’s wholesale price. The market dominance of PBMs—primarily Optum Rx, Caremark, and Express Scripts—which collectively control approximately 80% of drug access in the US, remains a central point of contention for critics who argue their rebate system inflates prices and contributes to higher insurance premiums for patients.

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