A new analysis by ICER and reported by multiple outlets says most newly launched medicines are priced well above accepted cost-effectiveness benchmarks, with net prices remaining high. The findings focus on net launch prices—after accounting for inflation and manufacturer discounts—and track changes over time from 2022 through 2025.
Across the reports, the central trend is that median net prices for newly launched drugs rise sharply over the period. One outlet reports a 35% increase in the median net price from 2022 to 2025, and another specifies that 202 newly launched medicines had a median net price of about $257,000 last year, up from about $173,000 in 2022. While one report notes a slight dip in prices in the most recent year, it says the overall level remains elevated relative to cost-effectiveness guidelines.
Outlets vary mainly in emphasis—one highlights that net launch prices spike between 2022 and 2025 and remain above ICER thresholds, while the other provides more granular context on the median values and the number of medicines included. The underlying conclusion is consistent: launch prices for many new medicines continue to outpace cost-effectiveness guidance.
