Newsweek - USA (2019-10-11)

Prescription Drugs

The high cost of prescription drugs is shaping up to be

a major issue in the 2020 election, as many Americans

struggle to pay for the medications they need. Coupled

with growing concern about the opioid crisis, public

opinion has shifted sharply on manufacturers: Big

Pharma is now the most poorly regarded industry in the

country, according to the latest Gallup ranking. Here’s

a snapshot of drug prices in the U.S. —Noah Miller

BY THE NUMBERS

U.S. prescription sales in 2017. This number is expected to reach $640 billion by 2020.

$455,900,000,000

3 IN 10

1 IN 4

The number of

top-selling brand

name drugs in

the U.S. that have

doubled in price

since 2012.

/$

55

<:

$^6

+%

85

1 ʔ

*(

77

<

41

The retail monthly

cost of the HIV

medication

Tr uvada in

Australia. The

same drug costs

$1,780 in the U.S.

$

27

$280 v. $50

A one five-pen

carton of Lantus,

an insulin made

by Sanofi, costs

about $280 in the

U.S. and only €45

($50.60) in France.

DoubleƠ

How much

insulin in the

U.S. rose

over 4 years,

increasing

from $2,864

per type 1

diabetes pa-

tient in 2012

to $5,705

in 2016.

The proportion of adults

who report not taking their

prescribed medicines at

some point due to cost.

60 %Ơ How much brand

name drugs have increased

in price since 2014.

By contrast, the price of

generic drugs has fallen by

37 % over the same period.

The number of

prescription drug

WDNHUVWKDWɿQGLW

difficult to

afford their

medication.

1/10th

How much

less insu-

lin costs

in Canada

compared

to the U.S.