Sticker Shock: The Real Cost Of America’s 10 Most Expensive Drugs

Nicole Fisher 

The high price of pharmaceuticals has become a constant topic of conversation in the U.S. As medical costs rise, consumers face greater financial uncertainty.

Although very few consumers pay out-of-pocket prices for a monthly supply of medication thanks to insurance, the number who do is increasing. And in the case that an individual has to pay the list price – or wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) set by the pharmaceutical company – the following 10 drugs will set back anyone’s monthly budget. Below are the 10 most expensive drugs in the U.S. according to GoodRx’s 2018 rankings.

Prices are based on a 30-day supply at WAC:

10. Cuprimine: $31,426 Owned by Valeant. This drug is used to treat Wilson disease, a rare inherited disease that causes copper to build up in the body, as well as rheumatoid arthritis. Price for 120 capsules.

9. Harvoni: $31,500 Owned by Gilead Sciences. This is a combination drug that treats Hepatis C by combining two antiviral medicines into one tablet. Price for 21 tablets.

8. Firazyr: $32,468 Owned by Shire. A protein used to treat a rare condition known as hereditary angioedema, a blood disorder that causes swelling. Price for 2 syringes.

7. Juxtapid: $36,992 Owned by Aegerion. Used in combination with diet, this drug lowers blood cholesterol. Price for 30 capsules.

6. P. Acthar: $38,892 Owned by Mallinckrodt. Treats Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, MS, infantile spasms & other conditions. Price for 2 vials.

5. Myalept: $42,137 Owned by Aegerion. Used to treat the symptoms of leptin deficiency in patients with congenital or acquired generalized lipodystrophy. Price for 1 vial.

4. Chenodal: $42,570 Owned by Retrophin. Helps treat gallstones for those who cannot have gallbladder surgery by dissolving the gallstones. Price for 90 tablets.

3. Cinryze: $44,140 Owned by Shire. This drug is used to treat a rare condition known as hereditary angioedema, a blood disorder that causes swelling. Price for 20 vials.

2. Daraprim: $45,000 Owned by Vyera (previously Turing). An anti-parasitic medication that treats infection of toxoplasmosis. Price for 6 tablets.

1. Actimmune: $52,321 Owned by Horizon Pharma. Specialty drug used by patients living with two extremely rare, life-threatening diseases – chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and osteoporosis. Although a spokesperson at Horizon’s asserts that the average net price is $24,000 per month. Price for 12 vials.

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