"The agreements, nicknamed "most favored nation" deals, were aimed at getting lower prices for American consumers and pushing other wealthy countries to pay higher prices for new drugs. But drug companies, including the 16 that made deals, raised the prices of 872 brand-name drugs in the first two weeks of 2026, according to a new analysis by 46brooklyn, a drug price research firm."
"The drugs with price hikes included medicines to treat cancer, heart failure and Type 2 diabetes. The price of some COVID shots also went up. "The real truth serum is what's happening in the marketplace after those deals occur," says Antonio Ciaccia, CEO of 46brooklyn, a nonprofit that tracks the list prices of prescription medications. "January is prime time for list price changes on brand-name drugs. So in examining where we are today, we're pretty much in line with the last few years.""
Since September, 16 major drug manufacturers signed agreements with the Trump administration intended to lower prices and alter international pricing dynamics. In January all 16 released higher list prices for some drugs, and 872 brand-name medicines saw list-price increases in the first two weeks of 2026. The increases affected treatments for cancer, heart failure, Type 2 diabetes and some COVID vaccines, with a median increase of 4%, matching last year. List prices serve as negotiation baselines with insurers and pharmacy benefit managers and influence coverage decisions and patient out-of-pocket costs. The White House said discounts from the agreements will reach Medicaid and some cash-paying patients.
Read at www.npr.org
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