Senator Bernie Sanders, the ranking member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, just released a report showing that Trump’s drug pricing deals have only led to higher drug prices. Notwithstanding Trump’s claim that his deals with drug manufacturers would make drugs more affordable, the manufacturers have actually raised their drug prices and launched new drugs at an average annual cost of $353,000, reports Berkeley Lovelace, Jr. for NBC News. Meanwhile Congress has done nothing to address high drug costs.
Americans pay higher prices than people anywhere else for their drugs. Until Congress enacts legislation that requires the government to negotiate drug prices on behalf of all Americans, we will continue to pay high drug prices. Voluntary efforts will not stop drugmakers from raising prices.
The Sanders report also finds that pharmaceutical company profits have risen significantly during the first year of the Trump administration. In 2024, profits for the industry totaled $107 billion. In 2025, they were up $70 billion to $177 billion
No one actually knows the content of the deals Trump has made with pharmaceutical companies. But, it does not appear that President Trump’s “most favored nation” deals with pharmaceutical companies have lowered costs for Americans in any meaningful way. From the data we have on drug company profits, it appears that the deals have only benefited the drug companies.
Yes, TrumpRx could help some people. People without insurance can use TrumpRx for drug prices that are below list price. But, they pay about what they would pay with a coupon from GoodRx.
Prices for costly popular drugs in the US are rising faster than inflation. For example, Keytruda’s price rose six percent a year. It now costs about $210,000 a year in the US, as compared to $37,900 in Japan and $88,100 in France.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Who will TrumpRx help?
- One-third of drugs on TrumpRx cost more than in UK
- Online pharmacies can save you money
- Case study: Costco saves one couple hundreds of dollars over Medicare Part D
- 2026: Trump’s drug price deals haven’t stopped drug prices from rising
