Prescription drug affordability is shaped by more than just list price. In this brief, the Bipartisan Policy Center looks at how pricing strategies, competition, and market dynamics influence what patients ultimately pay, while noting that higher drug spending can sometimes be offset by better adherence and fewer downstream medical costs. The article also highlights a shift toward more specialty, biologic, and orphan drugs, which are often launched at higher prices and face fewer competitors. It underscores how generics and biosimilars can help reduce costs, but that patent disputes, rebate structures, and other market barriers can slow that impact. Responsory’s takeaway: Drug affordability is no longer just a pricing issue; it’s a market access and value story. For pharma marketers, the challenge is to communicate clinical and economic value clearly enough to support coverage, preserve trust, and differentiate the brand in a more cost-conscious environment.

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