U.S. drugmakers are preparing to raise the list prices of hundreds of brand-name medicines in 2026, despite growing pressure from Washington to curb prescription drug costs for patients.
According to a Reuters report, more than 350 medications are expected to see price increases, spanning everything from vaccines for COVID-19, RSV, and shingles to widely used cancer treatments such as Pfizer’s Ibrance. Data from healthcare analytics firm 3 Axis Advisors shows that the number of planned hikes already exceeds last year’s pace, when companies announced increases for roughly 250 drugs by the same point in the year.
The typical price increase is projected to be around 4%, roughly in line with recent trends. These figures reflect list prices set by manufacturers — not the final amounts paid by insurers or patients after rebates and negotiated discounts are applied. Still, list prices matter, particularly for uninsured patients and those facing high out-of-pocket costs.
The planned increases come even as the federal government has intensified scrutiny of drug pricing. Under the Trump administration, officials have publicly pushed pharmaceutical companies to lower costs and have reached targeted pricing agreements with some manufacturers. Those deals, however, often apply only to specific programs or patient groups and have not stopped companies from raising prices across their broader product lines.
There are a few exceptions. Some medications are expected to become cheaper next year, most notably the diabetes drug Jardiance, which is slated for a list price cut of more than 40%. That reduction is largely tied to pricing negotiations under Medicare, the government health program for seniors.
Policy experts caution that while headline-grabbing price cuts can generate political momentum, they do little to offset the steady accumulation of increases across the rest of the market. Over time, those increases continue to drive higher overall spending on prescription drugs.
Companies including Pfizer, Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline, and Boehringer Ingelheim are among those planning to raise prices as the new year begins. Drugmakers frequently point to inflation and the high cost of research and development as reasons for the adjustments.
January has long been a key moment for the industry to reset prices, and analysts expect that pattern to continue as companies navigate competitive pressures and shifting federal policies aimed at balancing affordability with pharmaceutical innovation.
