BOSTON and SAN DIEGO, October 20, 2026 – Today the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) and West Health released a new “Launch Price and Access Report,” finding that the median drug launch prices continue to exceed $250,000 per year, contributing to increases in overall healthcare costs.
Downloads: Final Report | Report One-Pager | Research Protocol
This report focused on “net price,” or the actual price paid after rebates and discounts, offering crucial information to policymakers, given that most previous analyses of drug pricing trends focus on the publicly available “list price,” which does not always reflect the actual price paid.
Key findings from the report include:
- The median net launch price of drugs rose sharply, by 35%, from $190,000* in 2022 to $257,000 in 2025 (adjusted for inflation). Although this price decreased slightly, by 2%, between 2024 and 2025, it remained at historically high levels, creating challenges across the health care system.
- About one in four drugs introduced in 2025 had an annual net price exceeding $500,000, while an additional 34% were launched at prices between $200,000 and $500,000.
- Only about one in three newly approved drugs previously reviewed by ICER are priced at or below ICER’s recommended price benchmark, with the remainder exceeding their estimated value.
- The data showed the complexity of patient access during the first year post-approval, with only one-third of outpatient prescriptions ultimately filled within 30 days of attempting to fill them. A significant proportion of prescriptions were rejected due to non-coverage, likely due to new-to-market blocks.
“This independent analysis shows that we are facing a critical moment in the US health care system,” stated ICER’s President and CEO Sarah K. Emond, MPP. “Overpayment for drugs beyond their value to patients is contributing to decreased patient access. While the US has produced some of the world’s most incredible innovations, patients are still experiencing significant barriers to care. Now more than ever, it is crucial that we start working towards the goal of pairing fair pricing with fair access – leading to a more affordable health system for us all.”
“Many Americans are struggling to access the prescription medications they need,” said Timothy Lash, President and Chair of the West Health Policy Center. “This year’s Launch Price and Access report reveals just how serious the problem is becoming. The data shows the struggle with high launch prices is even more stark for Medicare recipients who face higher rates of coverage rejections than all other payer types. Even when Medicare beneficiaries can get access, paying more for drugs means hard tradeoffs for American seniors living on a fixed income.”
These barriers come as millions of Americans are finding healthcare less and less affordable. The West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare regularly collects data on the cost of care. In July 2026, Americans were asked if they are concerned that their household will be unable to pay for needed prescription drugs in the next 12 months:
- Nearly 40% of Americans were “concerned” or “very concerned” (compared to 25% in July 2022);
- Among those aged 65+, 36% were “concerned” or “very concerned”;
- Among those with 3 or more chronic conditions, 49% were “concerned” or “very concerned.”
Methodology and Partners
ICER followed the protocol it announced in May 2026 to create this report.
ICER’s data partners included IPD Analytics and IQVIA. ICER also collaborated with the National Health Council on patient engagement.
Public Webinar
ICER will host a public webinar at 12:00 PM ET on October 27, 2026 to discuss rising launch prices, and the implications for affordability and patient access. Key takeaways from ICER’s inaugural Launch Price and Access report will be presented by Foluso Agboola, SVP of Research at ICER, to set the stage for a panel discussion moderated by Sarah Emond, President and CEO of ICER, highlighting opportunities for enhancing patient affordability and access to new therapies.
Panelists include:
- Rebecca Kirch, JD, EVP of Policy and Programs, National Patient Advocate Foundation
- Magda Rusinowski, MS, Vice President, Business Group on Health
- Namrata Kaur Uberoi, PhD, MPH, Executive Director of Health Care Cost and Affordability, West Health
Register here for the webinar.
About ICER
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) is an independent, non-profit research institute that conducts evidence-based reviews of health care interventions, including prescription drugs, other treatments, and diagnostic tests. In collaboration with patients, clinical experts, and other key stakeholders, ICER analyzes the available evidence on the benefits and risks of these interventions to measure their value and suggest fair prices. ICER also regularly reports on the barriers to care for patients and recommends solutions to ensure fair access to prescription drugs. For more information about ICER, please visit www.icer.org.
About West Health
Solely funded by philanthropists Gary and Mary West, West Health is a family of nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations that include the Gary and Mary West Foundation and Gary and Mary West Health Institute in San Diego and the Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center in Washington, D.C. West Health is dedicated to lowering healthcare costs to enable seniors to successfully age in place with access to high-quality and affordable health and support services that preserve and protect their dignity, quality of life and independence. Learn more at westhealth.org.
*CORRECTION: A previous version of this release misstated the median net launch price for 2022 adjusted for inflation as $173,000. It should have been reported as $190,000.
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