July 31, 2024- Vizient, Inc. released its summer Pharmacy Market Outlook estimating the 2025 overall drug price inflation rate for pharmaceuticals at 3.81% based in part on expanding indications of previously approved medications, such as semaglutide, which increased 77% in spend since the summer 2023 Outlook. The report also urges providers to prepare for an increased number of high-cost cell and gene therapies entering the market that will significantly impact provider budgets and operational processes. View the summer 2024 Pharmacy Market Outlook.
Currently, FDA-approved gene and cell therapies range in annual wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) from $250,000 to $4.25 million for a single dose. Recently approved gene therapies, ranging from $2 million to $4.25 million in WAC, include treatment indications for inherited blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia and pediatric neurological conditions including Duchenne muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, pre-symptomatic late-infantile and early, active cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy.
The Outlook notes that there are close to 300 cell and gene therapies currently in clinical trials across several disease states.