GoodRx Names Top 20 Most Expensive Prescription Drugs in 2020

February 18, 2020 - According to a GoodRx analysis, Myalept is the most expensive prescription drug in the US in 2020 with a list price of $72,306. 

In their yearly analysis, GoodRx researchers broke down the most expensive drugs in the US by tracking list prices and dosing requirements in an effort to continue to increase price transparency for Americans. 

Their findings uncovered that the most expensive drugs kept increasing in price and two newly approved drugs found a spot on the list as well, priced over $30,000 a month. A small portion patients pay a prescription drug’s list price because these consumers are typically protected by their health insurance. But higher drug prices do impact the vast majority of patients, who are increasingly facing higher deductibles and greater patient financial responsibility for their medications.

The following are the 20 most expensive medications in the US based on list price, according to GoodRx. 

1. Myalept - $71,306

Myalept, an orphan drug that is intended to treat leptin deficiency in patients with generalized lipodystrophy. The prescription drugcomes in at the most expensive drug of 2020 at $71,306.

The drug costs $5,093 for 14 vials per month. Myalept increased in price by 9.9 percent, from $64,859 to $71,306 last month. 

2. Ravicti - $55,341

Manufactured by Horizon Pharma, Ravicti is used to treat urea cycle disorders, which can result in high levels of ammonia in the blood. The typical patient uses 11 bottles in one month and can be used in children as young as two months old.

The list price for one bottle of Ravicti is $5,031, up four percent from 2019 and over $23,000 since 2018.

3. Mavenclad - $53,730

Mavenclad was approved in March 2019 and is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Treatment courses cost an expensive $53,730. Patients take two treatment courses 12 months apart.

4. Actimmune - $52,777

Actimmune is also manufactured by Horizon Pharma and helps to treat osteopetrosis and chronic granulomatous disease. Patients go through 11 vials a month and each vial costs $4,797.92. 

The list price increased by 4.8 percent in January and was the most expensive drug in 2018 at $52,322.   

5. Oxervate - $48,498

Oxervate was approved in 2019 and is the first drug available to treat neurotrophic keratitis. The list price increased by 2.7 percent, now costing $1,732.07 per vital. 

6. Takhzyro - $45,464

Takhzyro is manufactured by Shire and used to treat angioedema. Patients usually need two vitals a month, costing $45,464 total. 

The drug list price increased $1,324 since 2018. 

7. Daraprim - $45,000 

Daraprim is given to patients with AIDS or individuals who have received transplants to prevent infection. Additionally, it is used to treat toxoplasmosis. Unlike other drugs, patients typically consume this drug for no more than a couple of months.

The list price covers 60 tablets, which hasn’t changed in the recent past. 

8. Juxtapid - $44,714

Manufactured by Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Juxtapid is used to treat people with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, which leads to cardiovascular disease. Each capsule has a list price of $1,596.91 and patients usually take 28 capsules per month. 

The list price increased nearly ten percent in January and 7,722 since 2018. 

9. Cinryze - $44,141 

Similar to Takhzyro, Cinryze is manufactured by Shire and also used to treat hereditary angioedema list. The price covers a one-month supply of the drug. 

10.  Chenodal - $42,570 

Chenoldal is manufactured by Retrophin and used to dissolve gallstones. Most patients take 90 tablets a month but may take up to as many as 210 at a list price of $473 per tablet.

11.  Gattex - $40,450 

Approved in May 2019, Gattex is used to treat short bowel syndrome and costs $1,348 per vial. 

12.  H.P. Acthar - $39,864

Approved over ten years ago, H.P. Acthar is used to treat various conditions including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, infantile spasms, eye disorders, and psoriatic arthritis.

A typical month supply costs $39,864, which jumped only $972 from 2018. 

13. Tegsedi - $34,600 

Tegsedi is used to treat nerve damage caused by hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. Patients usually start at four syringes per month, each costing $8,650. 

14.  Vitrakvi - $32,800  

Vitrakvi is a cancerous drug used to treat patients with a specific gene mutation. Patients typically take 60 capsules a month, listed at $547 each. 

15.  Ayvakit - $32,000

The most recently approved drug in January 2020, Ayvakit is used to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumors. The list price covers a 30-day supply, with each tablet costing $1,067. 

16.  Kynamro - $30,444 

Approved in 2017, Kynamro Is used to treat homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, a disorder that can lead to premature heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes. Patients typically go through four syringes per month, listed at $7,611 per syringe. 

17.  Sovaldi - $28,000

Solvaldi is manufactured by Gilead and is used to treat hepatitis C. Patients take the drug for 12 weeks, with the list price for a one month supply ay $28,000, or $1,000 per tablet. 

18.  Viekira Pak - $27,773

Viekira Pak is also used to treat hepatitis C genotype 1. Patients take three different tablets twice a day. The list price has not changed for years, according to GoodRx’s analysis. 

19.  Viekira XR 

Viekira XR is the extended-release version of Viekira Pak and also used to treat patients with hepatitis C genotype 1. Patients take three tablets once per day. 

20.  Tibsovo - $27,421 

Tibsovo is the first treatment for acute myeloid leukemia in patients with a specific genetic mutation. It is listed at $27,421 for a one-month supply, making it unaffordable for most patients. 

GoodRx reported that at the beginning of every year researchers uncover a pharma price increase. In 2018, there was the biggest jump with 729 brand drugs increasing an average of 7.7 percent. And last year, 601 brand drugs increased by an average of 5.8 percent. 

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Humira also increased during January for the past three years. In January 2018, 2019, and 2020, the drug increased by 9.7 percent, 6.2 percent, and 7.4 percent, respectively. 

Drugs such as Yaz and Restasis both saw a 5 percent increase in January and are projected to increase in July as well. Marplan and Cotempla XR increased over ten percent, at 14.9 percent and 12.3 percent, respectively. 

High-list prices affect patients in the form of out-of-pocket costs like premiums, co-pays, and/or coinsurance. It also means higher cash prices at the pharmacy.