July 16, 2026
NPR recently published an article featuring Rena Conti, Professor of Markets, Public Policy, and Law, examining why the Trump administration’s TrumpRx prescription drug discount program has delivered more limited savings than initially promised.
The article notes that TrumpRx currently lists 92 brand-name drugs from 15 participating pharmaceutical companies, despite those companies collectively marketing more than 800 brand-name medicines. Many of the industry’s highest-selling drugs, including Pfizer’s Eliquis and Paxlovid and Merck’s Keytruda, are not included, while some discounted brand-name drugs remain more expensive than generic alternatives available elsewhere.
Conti explains that drugmakers are selectively discounting a limited number of products, saying the program “may help a small share of people who are purchasing these products at a cash price but are not helping all the consumers of their products.”
She adds that because most pharmaceutical revenue comes from insured patients, who are often better off using their existing coverage, TrumpRx is unlikely to significantly reduce drug costs while potentially providing a modest boost in sales for participating manufacturers.
