3 drugs dominate list of most costly prescribed meds

An annual review of the most expensive prescribed medications in the state found that just three dominate the list.

The state Office of Health Strategy on Thursday released its annual Top Outpatient Prescription Drug summary report, which analyzes drug prices and utilization in the state.

Each year, OHS publishes a list of up to 10 drugs that meet the criteria established by state law. The drugs included in the list:

• are provided at substantial cost to the state and/or are critical to public health.
• are expensive for a course of treatment; and
• have seen a high price increase.

The analysis reviewed outpatient prescription drug prices as of Jan. 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2023. This year’s list includes seven drugs that account for more than $555 million in commercial, Medicaid and Medicare Advantage spending, although the data does not factor in drug rebates.

Humira, Skyrizi and Rinvoq, all immunosuppressants made by AbbVie Inc., accounted for 96% of the total spending and 95% of total utilization included in the report.

Humira, which treats arthritis, plaque psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, alone accounted for nearly $362.4 million in spending or 65% of the total, the report found.

Each of the top three drugs saw increases of 16% in their wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) between 2021-23, the report states.

“Prescription drug prices, and the significant increases we see in the prices for certain drugs, make it more difficult for Connecticut residents to afford the healthcare they need,” said Amy Porter, acting commissioner of OHS.

Most of the drugs included in this year’s list are considered specialty drugs and target serious or chronic autoimmune or neurological conditions or treat cancer, the report states, describing them as “high-cost, complex medications that often require special handling, administration or monitoring.”

The state statute requires the outpatient prescription drug list prepared annually by OHS to include drugs from different therapeutic classes and those with a wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) that increased by not less than 16% cumulatively during the immediately preceding two calendar years and was not less than $40 for a course of treatment.

In addition to Humira, Skyrizi and Rinvoq, this year’s list includes Nuplazid, Tukysa, Percocet and Apokyn. Each of those drugs also saw increases in cost, ranging from 18.8% to 25.5%, the report found.