Mark Cuban, founder of Cost Plus Drugs, delivered a surprising endorsement of TrumpRx during his testimony before Congress, praising the initiative as “incredible” and “stupendous.” The Dallas Mavericks owner highlighted his company’s collaboration with TrumpRx, emphasizing its potential to lower drug prices for patients.
Cuban stated that Cost Plus Drugs would integrate its pricing data into TrumpRX’s platform, allowing users to access real-time price reductions. He argued that the program bypasses traditional pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which he claims inflate costs by up to $800 per medication. “By working directly with patients, we can save seniors and everyone a lot of money,” Cuban said.
The discussion centered on TrumpRX’s direct-to-consumer model, which connects patients with discounted drug prices without intermediaries. Cuban acknowledged the system’s limitations but praised its transparency, noting that Cost Plus Drugs publishes daily price lists with full cost breakdowns. “What we really sell is trust,” he added.
Chairman of the hearing asked about potential savings for patients using TrumpRX versus traditional PBM systems. Cuban cited a $1,300 average cost through PBMs versus $499 or less via direct programs, attributing the discrepancy to PBM profit margins. He described TrumpRX as “the most incredible program ever,” despite acknowledging political tensions between himself and President Donald Trump.
The testimony underscored growing scrutiny of pharmaceutical pricing and efforts to disrupt established industry practices.