America’s 10 priciest prescription medications by cost and by volume

President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to slash prescription drug prices in the U.S. has sparked a conversation about the current costs of medications and how much Americans stand to save. The order, which implements a “most favored nations drug pricing” policy, aims to align drug prices in the U.S. with those in other developed countries, potentially reducing prices by 50 to 80 to 90%.

Katy Dubinsky, a New York pharmacist and CEO of Vitalize, commended the president’s efforts to address the issue of high drug prices, but cautioned that the process of implementing the order will take time. While the executive order directs government agencies to begin drafting rules, it may be several months before any significant changes are seen.

Dubinsky highlighted some of the most expensive prescription drugs in the U.S. today, including Lenmeldy, Hemgenix, Elevidys, Skysona, and Zynteglo, which range in price from $2.8 million to $4.25 million. These medications are used to treat rare genetic disorders and serious conditions like metachromatic leukodystrophy, hemophilia B, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, and beta-thalassemia.

John Stanford, executive director of Incubate, shared insights on the top five most expensive drugs by sales volume, including Keytruda, Eliquis, Ozempic, Humira, and Biktarvy. These medications, used to treat various cancers, blood disorders, diabetes, and HIV, generate billions in revenue for pharmaceutical companies.

Dr. Jacob Glanville of Centivax predicted that newer brand-name drugs still under patent protection, as well as antibody therapies, cellular therapies, gene therapies, and personalized cancer vaccines, are likely to be affected by the executive order. While lowering prices on these medications may lead to concerns about reduced investment in innovation, Glanville emphasized the need to address the unsustainable cost of medical care in the U.S.

Ultimately, the debate over prescription drug prices underscores the complex interplay between innovation, affordability, and access to life-saving treatments. As the government takes steps to address high drug costs, stakeholders across the healthcare industry will need to collaborate to ensure that patients can afford the medications they need to live healthy and fulfilling lives.