High Cost of Cancer Medicines in the United States: Opportunities for Policy Reforms

Cancer drug prices in the US are substantially higher than in comparable countries, and approximately 1 in 2 patients with cancer experiences financial toxicity. The authors argue that high prices are driven by manufacturers’ ability to set launch prices with limited negotiation, uncertainty surrounding the clinical value of some newly approved drugs, and poor alignment between prices and patient benefit. They suggest that US policymakers draw lessons from international HTA frameworks by linking prices more closely to clinical value and reassessing prices as new evidence emerges.