As we enter 2025, pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), and Sanofi are preparing to raise prices on more than 250 branded medications in the United States. These hikes will affect critical treatments, including COVID-19 antivirals, cancer therapies, and life-saving vaccines. With the U.S. already paying more for prescription drugs than any other country, these changes are raising concerns about affordability and access.
Drug price increases have become a recurring trend, especially in January when pharmaceutical companies make annual adjustments. In 2025, companies are focusing their hikes on the U.S. market, where government regulations on drug pricing are weaker compared to other nations.
A report by 3 Axis Advisors reveals that most of the price increases will remain below 10%, with a median hike of 4.5% — consistent with last year’s trends. However, some critical treatments will see substantial increases that could impact patients’ wallets.
Here’s a breakdown of the key medications facing price hikes in 2025:
Drug | Manufacturer | Price Increase | Treatment Type |
---|---|---|---|
Paxlovid | Pfizer | 3% | COVID-19 Treatment |
Nurtec | Pfizer | 4-5% | Migraine Treatment |
Abecma | Bristol Myers Squibb | 6% | Cancer Cell Therapy |
Breyanzi | Bristol Myers Squibb | 9% | Cancer Cell Therapy |
Vaccines | Sanofi | 2.9% to 9% | Various |
Matulane | Leadiant Pharmaceuticals | 15% | Hodgkin’s Disease |
Cystaran | Leadiant Pharmaceuticals | 20% | Rare Eye Condition |
Pfizer is raising prices on more than 60 medications, including its widely used COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid. The company also plans increases on migraine treatments and cancer drugs such as Adcetris, Ibrance, and Xeljanz.
According to Pfizer spokesperson Amy Rose, these increases are necessary to support ongoing investments in drug research and development and to offset rising costs.
BMS is hiking prices on its high-cost cancer cell therapies, including Abecma and Breyanzi. These treatments, which can cost nearly half a million dollars per infusion, are considered lifesaving for patients with specific types of blood cancers.
BMS justifies the increases by highlighting the personalized nature of these therapies, stating that Breyanzi is a one-time transformative treatment.
Sanofi, a French multinational pharmaceutical company, is raising prices on around a dozen vaccines by 2.9% to 9%. These include vaccines for influenza, polio, and other serious diseases.
Although the hikes remain modest compared to other medications, vaccine affordability remains a concern for many Americans.
The U.S. pharmaceutical market operates differently from other countries. In Europe, Canada, Japan, and Australia, governments regulate drug prices to ensure affordability. In contrast, the U.S. system allows pharmaceutical companies to set their own prices, leading to higher launch prices and frequent price hikes.
Despite criticism, drugmakers argue that price increases are necessary to fund research and innovation in new therapies. However, patients and advocacy groups argue that higher costs hurt access and increase out-of-pocket expenses.
While most price hikes remain below 10%, the cumulative impact on patients could be significant, especially for those relying on life-saving treatments.
Some key concerns include:
With U.S. drug prices of medicine for new year 2025 shall continue to climb, patients and policymakers alike are calling for greater price transparency and more robust regulations. As more drugmakers are expected to announce additional hikes in January, the focus remains on ensuring that critical medications remain accessible to all.
💡 Key Takeaway:
While drug makers justify the price hikes as necessary for continued innovation, patients must brace themselves for higher medication costs in 2025.
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