5 drugs becoming more expensive in 2026

Key takeaways

• The prices of around 350 medications are set to increase in 2026, including treatments for COVID-19, hospital-administered pain medications, and several vaccines.
• Many factors can cause drug prices to increase, including inflation and rising manufacturing and research costs.
• Some drugs are expected to decrease in price thanks to government negotiations, including several diabetes medications. Weight loss drugs are also expected to become cheaper in 2026.

Overview

There are many costs associated with healthcare, and medications represent just one of these expenses. Like other costs, medication prices can fluctuate over time due to inflation and other factors.

Drug manufacturers in the United States are set to increase the prices of at least 350 medications in 2026, according to a detailed analysis conducted by Reuters. Let’s look at 5 drug types expected to become more expensive in 2026.

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What drugs are going up in price in 2026?

A report from Reuters claims that at least 350 branded medications will increase in price in 2026. This is higher than estimates for 2025, which predicted that 250 drugs would become more expensive. The median price increase is 4%, consistent with the increases in 2025.

Individual manufacturers will set their own rates for increases. For example, Pfizer, the company behind several vaccines, cancer drugs, and heart medications, announced that most of its increases were below 10% and that the average increase was below the overall rate of inflation.

A European drug manufacturer, GSK, also announced increases of 2% to 8.9% across many drugs and vaccines.

Here are 5 medication types that are set to increase in price in 2026:

• COVID-19 treatments: Pfizer has announced a 15% increase for the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty. This is their highest increase announced so far. They also announced an increase for Paxlovid, an antiviral used to treat upper respiratory infections (URIs) like COVID-19.
• Cancer medications: Ibrance is a medication used to treat specific forms of breast cancer. It is one of the drugs for which Pfizer announced an increase.
• Hospital-administered pain medications: Some pain medications that are given to patients in hospitals, notably morphine and hydromorphine, are seeing greater than four-fold increases in 2026.
• Migraine medication: Nurtec (rimegepant) is used to both treat and prevent migraine attacks. It will also increase in price in 2026.
• Other vaccines: GSK has announced increases for its shingles vaccine, Shingrix. It also manufactures other vaccines, including a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine called Arexvy, that may increase in price this year, too.

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Why are drug prices increasing?

There are many reasons that drug prices increase over the years. These include:

• Manufacturing costs: Yearly inflation can affect the costs of materials needed to make medications. This makes manufacturing more expensive, so drugmakers will increase prices to recoup some of these costs.
• Research costs: It can be very costly to develop and research new medications. Both Pfizer and GSK cited research costs and investing in future drug research and innovation as reasons for increasing costs in 2026.
• Limited competition: When a brand-name medication enters the market, the manufacturers are granted a period of exclusivity to sell the drug without generic competition. This lack of competition can mean higher prices.
• Supply chain disruptions: If the supply chain of a medication is disrupted, demand will increase, which can raise prices.

Will any medications go down in price in 2026?

While many medications are seeing increases in 2026, some drugs are also set to go down in price in the U.S.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 enables Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices with manufacturers for the first time, starting in 2026. The ten drugs selected for 2026 are:

• Eliquis
• Jardiance
• Xarelto
• Januvia
• Farxiga
• Entresto
• Enbrel
• Imbruvica
• Stelara
• NovoLog

Because of this, these drugs may be significantly cheaper for adults enrolled in Medicare Part D. For example, Jardiance, a diabetes medication, is being reduced by more than 40%.

Weight loss medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, are also expected to become cheaper in the U.S. in 2026. The government has struck agreements with the manufacturers of these medications to make them significantly cheaper for consumers when purchased through the TrumpRx program.

Key patents for these drugs are also set to expire in countries like China and Canada, meaning generic alternatives can enter these markets, potentially driving prices down. The effect on prices in these markets may have a knock-on effect in the U.S., leading to lower overall prices.

Ways to save on your medications

Although the government is making many efforts to reduce costs, Americans currently pay the highest prices in the world for prescription medications. However, there are several ways that you can save on your medication costs.

• Consider generics: Generic medications are generally significantly cheaper than branded counterparts, and they’re equally safe and effective. You can ask a doctor or pharmacist whether a branded medication is available as a generic.
• Check for manufacturer savings programs: Many manufacturers offer savings programs or promotional prices on their medications. You can look up the manufacturer’s website to see if they offer any savings.
• Try prescription discount cards: Prescription discount cards and coupons, such as the Optum Perks Discount Card, can help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. You can present these cards at a pharmacy to receive discounts automatically. These are not used alongside insurance.

Summary

Many branded prescription medications are set to increase in price in 2026, although many manufacturers say increases are still below the average rate of inflation. Prices can increase due to increased demand, heightened manufacturing costs, and investment in future research.

However, following negotiations between the U.S. government and drug manufacturers, some drugs are set to become cheaper in 2026, including several diabetes and heart medications.

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on many prescription medications. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.

Disclaimer: While Optum Perks strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses.