A Senate Democrats report released by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., found that drugmakers who signed pricing deals with President Donald Trump have continued to raise the prices of hundreds of medications, including expensive gene therapies, cancer medications, and multiple sclerosis drugs, despite the administration's promises to lower prescription drug costs in the U.S. [1]. The report highlights that new drugs were launched at an average price of $353,000 per year [1]. In 2025, these companies collectively made $177 billion in profits, a significant increase from $107 billion the previous year [1].
The report raises questions about the effectiveness of the administration’s “most favored nation” deals, which were intended to align U.S. drug prices with those in other wealthy countries [1]. However, the details of these deals remain unclear, and it is not specified whether the drugs mentioned in the report were directly included in the agreements, though all the drugmakers involved were part of the deals [1].
Stacie Dusetzina, a health policy professor at Vanderbilt University, criticized the lack of transparency in the administration’s drug pricing announcements, stating that the efforts appear to have primarily benefited drug companies rather than patients [1]. In response, White House spokesperson Kush Desai argued that the report focuses on list prices, which do not reflect the actual prices patients pay at the pharmacy counter [1].
As part of the deals, drugmakers agreed to offer some products at discounted prices for cash-paying customers on TrumpRx.gov, a discount prescription drug platform, with many discounts mirroring those available on GoodRx [1]. These discounts are separate from list prices, but higher list prices can still impact patients in other ways [1].
The findings come as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is scheduled to testify before Congress regarding Trump’s budget and priorities, including prescription drug costs [1].
CONCLUSION
The Senate Democrats' report indicates that drugmakers increased prices and profits despite Trump administration deals aimed at lowering prescription drug costs. The lack of transparency and continued price hikes raise doubts about the effectiveness of these policies, signaling ongoing scrutiny and potential market volatility for the pharmaceutical sector.