Amid ongoing angst over prescription drug prices, a new analysis found the median net price for 202 newly launched medicines, when adjusted for inflation and manufacturer discounts, rose by 35% to $257,000 last year, from $173,000 in 2022.
About one in four drugs launched in 2025 had an annual net price exceeding $500,000, while another 34% were priced between $200,000 and $500,000, according to the analysis by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, a nonprofit that assesses the value of medicines, and West Health, a nonprofit that advocates for lower health care costs.
Interestingly, the median list price for the drugs — also adjusted for inflation — rose 24% during that time, to $293,000. Normally, list prices are higher than net prices, since discounts are subtracted. The reasons for the divergence were not analyzed but indicate varying discounts for different types of drugs.