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Drug Price Hikes Looming: 350+ Meds Affected Jan 1
1 Jan
Summary
- Over 350 branded medications will see price increases starting January 1.
- New deals with pharma companies aim to lower drug costs for Americans.
- Pfizer's COVID vaccine Comirnaty faces a 15 percent cost boost.
As of January 1, 2026, over 350 branded medications are scheduled for price increases. This includes vital treatments like COVID-19 vaccines, shingles vaccines, and cancer therapies. The pharmaceutical companies involved plan these hikes despite recent agreements with the U.S. government intended to curb rising drug costs for Americans. These new deals were announced earlier this month with nine major pharmaceutical firms.
Despite these agreements, Pfizer, Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and GSK are among those planning price adjustments. Pfizer, for instance, will increase prices on around 80 drugs, including cancer drug Ibrance and COVID treatment Paxlovid. Most of Pfizer's increases are below 10 percent, with the exception of Comirnaty, its COVID-19 vaccine, which will see a 15 percent cost boost.
Experts like Dr. Benjamin Rome suggest these deals only offer marginal improvements. GSK, a European-based drugmaker, plans price increases ranging from 2 to 8.9 percent on approximately 20 drugs and vaccines. Companies cite the need to support scientific innovation and maintain reasonable prices, but these upcoming hikes will impact many patients.
