EMD Serono Reduces Fertility Drug Costs in Agreement with Trump Administration

Fri Oct 17 2025 10:48:48 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a move to make fertility treatments more accessible, EMD Serono has agreed to reduce prices for a popular fertility medication, Gonal-f, as part of a deal with the Trump administration, which is also rolling out new federal guidelines for fertility coverage.

EMD Serono, the drugmaker behind Gonal-f, will cut costs for patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) as part of an agreement with the Trump administration, aimed at making fertility medications more affordable. This initiative follows a recent executive order from Trump to enhance access to fertility treatments and encourage employers to offer fertility benefits akin to dental and vision plans. Patients often bear significant expenses for IVF cycles, making assistance with drug costs a crucial step forward.

WASHINGTON — EMD Serono will lower the price of its fertility medication Gonal-f through an agreement with the Trump administration, aimed at alleviating the financial burden for patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). This announcement also includes new federal guidance encouraging employers to provide separate fertility coverage akin to dental and vision benefits.

President Trump stated that the agreement will make Gonal-f more affordable, following his earlier executive order to reduce the costs associated with IVF treatments. Despite this step forward, the administration’s actions fall short of Trump’s campaign promise to make IVF entirely free.

Gonal-f plays a critical role in IVF protocols by stimulating ovulation in patients, yet these treatments can pose significant financial challenges, with individual IVF cycles costing thousands of dollars. Many patients may need more than one cycle, exacerbating these costs.

The discounted drug will be available for direct purchase through TrumpRx, a US government website connecting patients with drug manufacturers. Furthermore, the FDA is collaborating with EMD Serono to expedite approval of another fertility drug, Pergoveris, which is currently available in Europe.

These moves come in response to pressure on the Trump administration following the Supreme Court's decision affecting abortion rights, which has intensified the focus on family-building options like IVF.

Industry experts, such as Roger Shedlin, CEO of WIN, have lauded these efforts as a positive development that could significantly lower overall costs for those pursuing fertility treatments. Families like that of Corinn O’Brien, who have experienced the high costs of IVF firsthand, have expressed hope that these changes will lead to broader coverage and support from employers.