The Reuters news service published an analysis last week that showed how prices for four of the top 10 prescription drugs in the U.S. increased by more than 100% since 2011 and the six others went up by more than 50%.
“Together, the price increases on drugs for arthritis, high cholesterol, asthma and other common problems added billions in costs for consumers, employers and government health programs,” Reuters reported in the April 5 article.
The arthritis drug Humira (AbbVie, Inc.) led the increase at 126%, followed by arthritis drug Enbrel (Amgen Inc.) and multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone (Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd) at 118%.
In response, the drug companies said discounts and rebates have to be factored into the drugs’ costs. Pharmacy benefit managers countered that argument, saying that even after discounts they were facing drug price increases of 10% a year.