Drug Channels

Reshaping Patient Affordability: The Power of Expertise and Agility

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Today’s guest post comes from Logan Melchione, Vice President of Patient Affordability at Paysign.

Logan examines how pharmaceutical manufacturers must rethink copay assistance in an era affected by maximizers, accumulators, and intensifying payer scrutiny. She argues that brands can both gain a strategic advantage and safeguard adherence by embracing claims-based precision, real-time adaptability, and transparent program design.

Request an analysis of your copay assistance program by emailing Paysign at affordability@paysign.com or by visiting paysign.com/rx.

Read on for Logan’s insights.
Read more »

PBM Industry Update 2026: Trends, Challenges, and What’s Ahead (NEW Live Video Webinar)

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Join Dr. Adam J. Fein, president of Drug Channels Institute (DCI) and the editor of Drug Channels, for his latest exclusive video webinar:

PBM Industry Update 2026:

Trends, Challenges, and What’s Ahead

This event will be broadcast live on:

Friday, April 10, 2026
12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET

Dr. Fein will be joined by Bryce Platt, a Director at DCI and an expert on PBMs' contractual and business relationships with plan sponsors.

The webinar will be broadcast live from the Drug Channels studio in beautiful downtown Philadelphia. It is part of The Drug Channels 2026 Video Webinar Series.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Join industry expert Adam J. Fein, Ph.D., and his colleague Bryce Platt for an exclusive deep dive into the latest trends, data, and strategies shaping the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) industry. Drawing from the brand-new 2026 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers, they will provide invaluable insights to help you and your team stay informed about this rapidly evolving market.

Adam and Bryce will share their expert analysis on critical industry developments, including:

The competitive landscape of major PBMs, with exclusive new market share data from DCI

Key business trends among leading PBMs and their impact on the market

PBMs’ expanding role in specialty pharmacy and how it’s reshaping the industry

Exclusive insights into the Federal Trade Commission’s settlement with Express Scripts

The outlook for the rebate system and the emergence of the Net Pricing Drug Channel

What the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 (CAA) means for PBMs’ profits and business strategies

The evolving role of independent PBMs and their market positioning

How health-system-owned PBMs are changing the game

Fresh data on plan sponsors’ perspectives on their PBM partners

Key takeaways from PBMs’ 2026 commercial formularies

The coming shifts in PBM compensation models

The risks and rewards of PBM-affiliated private-label products and GPOs

Latest developments in the 340B Drug Pricing Program

State and federal PBM regulations: What’s ahead?

Emerging controversies, challenges, and threats to watch in the industry

And much more!

As always, the presenters will clearly distinguish their opinions and interpretations from the objective facts and data.

This 90-minute video webinar will feature a dedicated Q&A session, where attendees can unmute and engage directly with Adam and Bryce.

Register now to stay informed and get ahead of the curve on the PBM industry!

PRICING OPTIONS

Take advantage of this exclusive educational opportunity for just $420 per viewing device. Once you register, you'll receive a unique Zoom access link within 24 hours—making it easy to add the event to your calendar and ensure you don’t miss out.

Special Discounts For Teams!

We understand that many professionals are working remotely, so we’re offering substantial savings for multiple registrations from the same organization. What's more, an unlimited number of attendees can watch together at a single physical location with one registered device.

Important Reminder: Each device at a single physical location must have its own registration. The webinar may not be recorded, streamed, broadcast, or shared across different locations, devices, or sites.

Click here to register. All discounts will be automatically computed based on the number of registrations you enter in your cart. (You can reset the cart by entering 0 in the quantity field.)

PBM Industry Update 2026: Trends, Challenges, and What’s Ahead

Questions about corporate pricing? Please contact Marie Caldwell (mcaldwell@hmpglobal.com).

Purchasing access for multiple sites? We'll contact you for your participant list. Or, download this spreadsheet and email your registrants’ information to dcisupport@hmpglobal.com.

Payment can be made with all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover). Prefer check or ACH? Click here to request an invoice.

Click here for other important things to know about this event.

Time to Evolve: Hubs Flex to New Demands

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Today’s guest post comes from Josh Marsh, Vice President and General Manager, Sonexus™ Access and Patient Support at Cardinal Health.

Josh examines how hub models are evolving under mounting commercial, operational, and technological pressures. He argues that the next generation of patient services will be defined not by a single model, but by adaptability and shared strategy.

To learn more, download Cardinal Health’s latest hub evolution insights from its two-year trend archive: 2026 insourcing and outsourcing trends for patient hubs.

Read on for Josh’s insights.
Read more »

Preorder Now: DCI’s 2026 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

On March 24, 2026, Drug Channels Institute will release The 2026 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers. This report—our seventeenth edition—remains the most comprehensive, fact-based tool for understanding the entire U.S. drug pricing, reimbursement, and dispensing system. If you make strategic decisions in this industry, this report belongs on your desk.

12 chapters, 500+ pages, 270 exhibits, and nearly 1,300 endnotes. No other resource matches the scope, depth, and rigor of this resource.

We are offering you the opportunity to preorder the thoroughly updated, revised, and expanded 2026 edition at special discounted prices. Preordering guarantees early access and locks in the lowest available price. Those who preorder will receive a download link before March 30.

Download a free 32-page pre-publication overview (including Key Industry Trends, What's New in this edition, the Table of Contents, and a List of Exhibits)

Review pricing/license options and place a preorder

You can pay online with all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover). Click here to contact us if you would like to pay by corporate check or ACH.

Email Marie Caldwell (mcaldwell@hmpglobal.com) if you’d like to bundle the report purchase with access to DCI’s video webinars.

Special preorder and launch pricing discounts will be valid through April 6, 2026. After that date, prices increase. Secure your discount now.

The report was researched and written by the Drug Channels Institute team, led by Adam J. Fein, Ph.D. As shown below, the 2026 edition delivers unmatched depth and breadth. The numbers indicate the report chapter that corresponds to, explains, and analyzes each channel flow.

The 2026 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers contains the most current market and industry data available, including DCI’s annual analyses of the market positions of the largest pharmacies, specialty pharmacies, and PBMs. Throughout the report, we have added new industry data, deepened our coverage of many topics, and expanded our analysis of emerging trends.

This definitive, nonpartisan report will aid pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacists, pharmacy owners, hospital executives, pharmacy buyers, benefit managers, managed care executives, policy analysts, investors, consultants, and anyone else who wants to understand and benefit from this ever-changing industry. If your organization competes, negotiates, invests, or sets policy in this market, this report will sharpen your strategy.

There are many notable updates in this 2026 edition, including:

A new Section 4.3.4. analyzes manufacturers’ direct-to-patient (DTP) websites and TrumpRx within the broader context of patient-paid prescriptions.

A new Section 5.5. deconstructs the three largest PBMs’ gross profits. Some of this material previously appeared in Chapter 11.

Material in Section 7.1., Section 9.1., and Section 9.3. reflects the PBM legislative reforms contained within the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (P.L. 119-75), which became law in February 2026.

Material in Section 8.4. and Section 9.3. incorporates implications of the 2026 settlement between Express Scripts and the Federal Trade Commission.

A new Section 6.3.3. reviews research on how the IRA’s implementation has affected out-of-pocket spending by Medicare Part D beneficiaries.

A new Section 11.2.4. analyzes pharmacies’ dispensing profits under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA).

A new Section 12.1.4. evaluates the potential implications of most favored nation (MFN) and tariff policies on the drug channel.

In Section 12.3.1., our illustration of major vertical business relationships among drug channel businesses now incorporates affiliated third-party administrators (TPAs) and administrative services only (ASO) platforms.

We have also improved our presentation of material about the IRA and the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

You can read about these changes starting on page x of the report overview.

Thank you for your interest in our work. If you have any questions before purchasing a license to the report, please email me. We look forward to supporting your team’s success in 2026.

Beyond DTP 2.0: How Flexible Direct-to-Patient Programs Power Best-In-Class Patient Experiences

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:36:00 +0000

Today’s guest post comes from Allison Bridges, SVP Client Success at PHIL Inc. and Cindy Eckert, Founder and CEO of Sprout Pharmaceuticals

Allison and Cindy argue that many direct-to-patient (DTP) programs remain constrained by one-size-fits-all models that limit both patient experience and commercial performance. As patients increasingly expect convenience, choice, and price transparency, they suggest that manufacturers must evolve beyond static DTP channels toward more flexible, hybrid access models.

Click here to learn more about PHIL’s DTP 2.0 platform, PHIL Direct.

Read on for Allison and Cindy’s insights.
Read more »

Drug Channels News Roundup, February 2026: Mark Cuban on FTC-ESI, What Patients Really Want, QALYs vs. MFN, 340B’s Site of Care Shift, and New Faces at DCI

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Despite the recent storm, winter—or at least February—is almost over. Before we thaw out, here’s a brisk tour of the forces reshaping the drug channel. In this issue:

Mark Cuban’s $0.02 on the FTC-ESI settlement

What patients want from health insurance

Why the QALY paradox could block MFN

How 340B drives hospital vertical integration

Plus: Meet the expanding Drug Channels Institute team!

P.S. Join my more than 68,000 LinkedIn followers for links to neat stuff, along with unfiltered commentary from the DCI community.
Read more »

The State of Patient Access: What Industry Leaders Reveal in a New Survey About Hub Models, Technology, and the Road Ahead

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Today’s guest post comes from Scott Genone, Chief Product Officer at CareMetx.

Scott shares findings from CareMetx’s 2026 Patient Services Report, based on a survey of more than 100 patient access decision-makers across biopharma, consulting, and specialty care. The results reveal an industry in transition. Hybrid hub models are becoming the norm, technology enablement remains uneven, and interoperability is emerging as a critical gating factor for meaningful progress.

To learn more, download CareMetx's 2026 Patient Services Report.

Read on for Scott’s insights.
Read more »

Medicare Part D Pharmacy Networks in 2026: Supermarkets Dominate as Drugstores Stall and Independents Walk Away

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has just released its initial 2026 data on enrollment in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs).

DCI’s exclusive analysis shows that 83% of seniors remain enrolled in PDPs with preferred pharmacy networks—essentially unchanged from 82% in 2025, but sharply lower than the 99% peak in 2023. Meanwhile, the number of major Part D plans offering preferred networks has fallen to a record-low eight.

The new enrollment data reveal a clear shift in competitive positioning: Albertsons and Publix are now preferred in every major plan. Walgreens is holding strong. Walmart—the company that invented the Part D preferred network model—has slipped to the middle of the preferred pack.

Meanwhile, smaller pharmacies have fully abandoned PDPs’ preferred networks in 2026.

At the same time, the IRA’s expansion of the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) means a growing share of beneficiaries have little financial incentive to use a preferred pharmacy at all. Add in the PBM reforms in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, and the preferred network model will gradually lose relevance.
Read more »

The Key to a Better Patient Experience: Improved GTN

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Today’s guest post comes from Gerard Rivera, CEO and Co-Founder of RIS Rx.

Gerard reframes patient affordability as a clinical issue rather than a purely financial one. He argues that real-time precision, earlier intervention, and coordinated escalation can reduce gross-to-net failures and improve the patient experience.

To learn more about RIS Rx’s approach, request a RIS Rx savings snapshot.

Read on for Gerard’s insights.
Read more »

Copay Accumulators and Maximizers in 2025: Popular, Profitable, and Problematic

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Valentine’s Day is almost here! It’s the perfect time for our annual update on plan sponsors’ enduring sweetheart: copay accumulators and maximizers—the benefit designs that divert manufacturers’ copay support away from patients and toward plans and PBMs.

As of late 2025, about four in ten commercially insured lives were enrolled in plans using a copay accumulator or a maximizer. Patients who rely on single-source, brand-name specialty drugs for autoimmune conditions, multiple sclerosis, and oncology are increasingly likely to encounter these designs. The data below illustrate how widespread these programs have become—and where their impact is most acute.

The potent combination of payer savings and PBM profits continues to attract plan sponsors, while patients remain caught in the middle of a complex and often opaque struggle among insurers, PBMs, and drugmakers. While a growing number of states have acted to restrict these tools, the states' reach remains limited.

Copay accumulators and maximizers exemplify many of the worst features of our crazy drug channel and add troubling complexity to benefit designs that already feature multiple tiers, copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, exclusions, and more. In this Valentine’s story, patients are still not the ones being courted.
Read more »

In an Uncertain 340B Environment, Kalderos Offers a Clear Path Forward

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Today’s guest post comes from Angie Franks, Chief Executive Officer at Kalderos.

Angie examines the growing uncertainty surrounding the 340B program and explains why comprehensive reform remains unlikely in the near term. She argues that claims-level transparency must serve as the foundation for a sustainable path forward. She describes Truzo, Kalderos’ solution for manufacturers and covered entities to work in real time to gain visibility into 340B drug discounts.

To learn more, schedule a meeting with the Kalderos legal team.

Read on for Angie’s insights.
Read more »

The FTC Blows Up Express Scripts’ PBM Model—and Launches the Net Pricing Drug Channel

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 18:56:00 +0000

Earlier today, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced an extraordinary settlement with Express Scripts that fundamentally reshapes its pharmacy benefit management (PBM) business—and by extension, the entire drug channel.

The settlement addresses virtually every warped incentive that we have been covering on Drug Channels for the past 20 years. I summarize them below, but it’s worth reading the full document (links below) to appreciate just how completely the FTC has dismantled the existing PBM business model.

One small caveat: Plan sponsors could provide a loophole for business-as-usual. (See Section XI.)

But as I predicted in the Drug Channels Outlook 2026 webinar, we are entering the Net Pricing Drug Channel (NPDC) era.

William Gibson once said: “The future is already here–it's just not evenly distributed.” That future just arrived for one of the biggest PBMs. Get ready.
Read more »

Latest CMS Data Reveal Six Trends Reshaping U.S. Drug Spending

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:30:00 +0000

The boffins at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently dropped the latest National Health Expenditure (NHE) data, which track all U.S. spending on healthcare. (Links below.)

We spent an astounding $5,278,588,000,000 on healthcare in 2024. Yes, that’s $5.3 trillion!

Retail outpatient prescription drugs accounted for less than 9% of that total. More than half of net outpatient drug spending was paid by federal, state, and local government programs. Below, we delve into the spending trends, which reveal the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on Medicare spending, the boom in healthcare marketplaces, and the post-pandemic bust in Medicaid.

Contrary to what you might read, the government’s data show that drug spending growth was not driven by purportedly “skyrocketing” drug prices. In reality, nearly all of the increase in drug spending reflected higher utilization—more people treated, more prescriptions dispensed, and shifts among drugs dispensed—rather than higher net prices.

Prices may grab headlines, but utilization—and taxpayers—are driving the spending story. When prices stop being signals, markets stop being markets.
Read more »

From Cost Center to Insights Center: How Patient Support Will Go Beyond the Call in 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 08:13:00 +0000

Today’s guest post comes from Brok Vandersteen, Vice President of Business Development at AssistRx.

Brok argues that in 2026, traditional patient support program (PSP) models must evolve beyond task execution to deliver actionable insights, adaptive access strategies, and measurable ROI. He outlines four key considerations for transforming PSPs from cost centers into insight-driven engines of value.

To explore how life sciences organizations are rethinking patient support in 2026, download the AssistRx white paper: How Tech + Talent Delivers Patient Support Programs that Go Beyond the Call.

Read on for Brok’s insights.
Read more »

Drug Channels News Roundup, January 2026: Cuban vs. Optum, McKesson’s Biosimilar Play, States vs. Accumulators, 340B Windfalls, and Ozempic Ads

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Super Bowl LX is almost here! Time for some blowout beer and snack commercials, occasionally interrupted by an actual football game. DCI’s hometown Philadelphia Eagles will not be going to the big game, so the city’s light poles will remain Crisco-free and upright.

While you wait for kickoff, please enjoy this month’s playbook of articles, intercepted for you from the Drug Channels gridiron:

Mark Cuban takes on Optum’s Patrick Conway in a fiery debate

McKesson makes its private-label biosimilar move

State anti-accumulator laws keep gaining ground

340B hospitals are still specialty drug profiteers

Plus: Will Ozempic's new ad campaign make us nostalgic for 2006?

P.S. Join my more than 67,000 LinkedIn followers for daily links to neat stuff, along with sharp, thoughtful commentary from the DCI community.
Read more »

New Drug Launches in a Self-Pay World: Why Access Strategy Matters as Much as Innovation

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Today’s guest post comes from Laura Jensen, Chief Commercial Officer and President, Pharma Solutions at GoodRx.

Laura argues that patient self-pay has evolved from a temporary bridge to a core access strategy for new drug launches. She examines how manufacturer-funded self-pay offers can be operational from day one.

Click here to learn more about GoodRx’s access and affordability solutions.

Read on for Laura’s insights.
Read more »

The Big Three PBMs’ 2026 Formulary Exclusions: MFP, Private Label Biosimilars, and Direct-to-Patient Threats for PBMs

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:30:00 +0000

For 2026, the three largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—Caremark (CVS Health), Express Scripts (Cigna), and Optum Rx (United Health Group)—have once again excluded hundreds of drugs from their standard formularies. Our updated counts appear below.

The 2026 lists highlight how formulary preferences for Humira and Stelara are dominated by private-label biosimilars affiliated with the same parent companies that operate the three largest PBMs. Many of the preferred products feature lower list prices, signaling growing tension between traditional rebate-driven formularies and emerging net-price-based competition.

These developments matter because the pricing system that underpins PBMs’ formulary leverage is weakening. The gross-to-net bubble is deflating and the industry is moving toward what we call the Net Pricing Drug Channel (NPDC).

As low list prices, direct-to-patient distribution, and cost-plus reimbursement models gain traction, formulary exclusions will no longer deliver the economic power they once did. These changes threaten PBMs’ leverage—and profits.

As usual, Mark Cuban is leading the way. AbbVie itself now appears to be following. Consider this year’s formulary review a preview of what market access looks like when the rebate game starts to unwind.
Read more »

The Net Pricing Revolution in the Drug Channel: What’s Deflating the Gross-to-Net Bubble

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:30:00 +0000

As I highlighted last week, we are entering the Net Pricing Drug Channel (NPDC) era—a market environment in which net prices, not list prices, determine access, economics, and competitive strategy. This shift represents a structural change in how value is created and captured across the U.S. drug channel.

The NPDC will:

Reward simpler pricing models

Penalize rebate-heavy strategies

Expose business models built on gross-to-net arbitrage

Force channel participants to rethink how they add value when money flows more transparently through the system

The short video below, excerpted from my recent Drug Channels Outlook 2026, explains why this shift is accelerating.

It walks through the key forces now deflating the gross-to-net bubble and explains how manufacturers and other channel participants are responding.

Can’t see the video? Click here to watch the NPDC clip.

For a deeper, data-driven look at the trends, market forces, and policy developments shaping the U.S. drug channel in 2026 and beyond, watch the full webinar replay and download the complete slide deck.

UPCOMING 2026 LIVE VIDEO WEBINARS
The Drug Channels 2026 Video Webinar Series

During 2026, DCI will be hosting three live, interactive video webinars focused on the issues that matter most as they’re happening—policy shifts, market trends, and major company moves. Click here to register.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS

For more context on the emergence of the Net Pricing Drug Channel and the slowdown in the gross-to-net bubble’s growth, see these Drug Channels articles:

U.S. Brand-Name Drug Prices Fell in 2025 as the Net Pricing Drug Channel Emerges

Gross-to-Net Bubble Hits $356B in 2024—But Growth Slows to 10-Year Low

List Price Reductions Will Deflate the Gross-to-Net Bubble–and Threaten Pharmacy and 340B Profits from IRA-Negotiated Drugs

NEW: The Drug Channels 2026 Video Webinar Series

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Join Dr. Adam J. Fein, president of Drug Channels Institute (DCI), for three new video webinars during 2026. These live, interactive events are designed for executives who need timely insight into the rapidly changing U.S. drug channel. They will be broadcast via Zoom from the Drug Channels Video studio in beautiful downtown Philadelphia.

During these events, Dr. Fein will address the latest issues confronting the U.S. drug channel. Topics will be determined based on what’s happening—trends, policy changes, company announcements, and more. He’ll share DCI’s latest market data to help you stay on top of new developments. You will be able to use these events as both a capstone of your current learning and a touchpoint for the future.

EVENT SCHEDULE

The three events are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET on the following dates:

April 10, 2026
June 12, 2026
December 11, 2026 (Drug Channels Outlook 2027)

Topics will be finalized closer to each date to reflect breaking trends, policy changes, and major company announcements—so the content stays timely, relevant, and immediately useful.

PRICING OPTIONS

Register for all three events for $1,080 per viewing device (or $360 per viewing device for a single event). We understand that many professionals are working remotely, so we’re offering substantial savings for multiple registrations from the same organization. What's more, an unlimited number of attendees can watch together at a single physical location with one registered device.

Important Reminder: Each device at a single physical location must have its own registration. The webinars may not be recorded, streamed, broadcast, or shared across different locations, devices, or sites.

Click here to register. All discounts will be automatically computed based on the number of registrations you enter in your cart. (You can reset the cart by entering 0 in the quantity field.)

The Drug Channels 2026 Video Webinar Series

Questions about corporate pricing? Please contact Marie Caldwell (mcaldwell@hmpglobal.com).

Purchasing access for multiple sites? We'll contact you for your participant list. Or, download the 2026 Drug Channels Webinar Registration spreadsheet and submit it to dcisupport@hmpglobal.com.

Payment can be made with all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover). Prefer check or ACH? Click here to request an invoice.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

Watch and listen via any device with a web browser (computer, iPad, iPhone/Android, etc.) There is no access via telephone.

We use Zoom technology for this webinar. Every registrant will receive an email from Zoom with a link to watch the event. This link is unique to the registrant and can only be accessed once. We recommend that every registrant downloads the Zoom client software/app.

Prior to each event, every registrant will receive an email from Zoom with a link to access the event and add it to their calendar. They will also receive reminder emails one week before and one hour before each event.

During each webinar, Dr. Fein will give participants an opportunity to unmute themselves and ask live questions.

Can’t attend the live event? After each event, every registrant will receive an email with information on how to view a replay of the Zoom video recording. Every registrant will also be able to download a PDF of the full slide deck.

Each registration for a DCI webinar is valid for a single device at a single physical location. Each device at a physical location and the viewer(s) at that location requires its own registration. Attendees are not permitted to record, stream, share, or project a DCI webinar to other sites. Purchasers who violate this limitation by recording, streaming, sharing, or projecting a DCI webinar to other sites are liable for the full cost of all locations that viewed the webinar. DCI reserves the right to ban purchasers who violate our terms from attending future DCI webinars.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer refunds.

Targeted Reach, Tighter Relationships: Why Rare Disease Launches Are Different

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 11:30:00 +0000

Today’s guest post is from Dr. Richard Faris, Chief Commercial and Clinical Officer at PANTHERx Rare.

Richard examines key considerations in launching rare disease therapies. He argues that targeted reach, tighter relationships, and data-driven collaboration can improve success for both patients and manufacturers.

To learn more, download PANTHERx Rare's free guide: From PDUFA to Patient: A Guide to Rare Disease Launch Success.

Read on for Richard’s insights.
Read more »

U.S. Brand-Name Drug Prices Fell in 2025 as the Net Pricing Drug Channel Emerges

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 11:30:00 +0000

It's time for Drug Channels’ annual examination of U.S. brand-name drug pricing.

For 2025, brand-name drugs’ average list prices grew by only 3.5%, but net prices declined. When manufacturers’ rebates and discounts are factored in, drugs’ average net prices—both before and after inflation—fell. Details and additional commentary below.

As I have been predicting, the gross-to-net bubble is deflating due to the combined impacts of government actions and consumer behavior.

For 2024 and 2025, manufacturers reduced the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) list prices for more than 20 brand-name drugs. For 2026, manufacturers will cut prices on at least 15 more drugs, which will reduce gross brand-name revenues by $35 to $40 billion. List prices are dropping by –25% to –85%.

The data leave no doubt: the bubble is finally leaking air. We are entering the Net Pricing Drug Channel (#NPDC)—a market environment in which net prices, not list prices, drive access, economics, and strategy.

The NPDC will reward simplicity, punish rebate dependence, and force every channel participant to rethink how money actually moves. Time to get ready.
Read more »

Drug Channels Leadership Forum 2026: Request an Invitation Before It’s Too Late!

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 11:30:00 +0000

The 2026 Drug Channels Leadership Forum (DCLF) is coming soon! Our second annual event will take place March 16–18, 2026, at the Turnberry Resort & Spa in Miami.

Once again, Drug Channels Institute (DCI) is proud to host this invite-only gathering of senior leaders across the drug channel ecosystem. You must request an invitation to be considered for attendance. Our final wave of invitations will begin in mid-January.

Request An Invitation

The 2026 program features in-depth fireside chats with me, along with dynamic panel discussions led by an exceptional group of executives and subject matter experts. View the full 2026 Drug Channels Leadership Forum agenda.

Meet the Speakers

Who Should Attend

What to Expect

Get Started

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Our 2026 speaker lineup brings together a diverse group of C-suite executives, policymakers, and industry thought leaders—ensuring every session delivers candid, high-value insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

DCLF is a strategic, invite-only gathering for leaders from across the healthcare and pharmaceutical landscape, including:

Pharmaceutical manufacturers
PBMs, health plans, employers, and plan sponsors
Health systems and physician practices
Pharmacies and wholesalers
Policymakers

Click here to watch highlights from our 2025 event and hear testimonials directly from participants.

To maintain the event’s strategic focus, attendance from industry suppliers (e.g., technology, consulting, financial services, etc.) is available only through sponsorship. Each sponsorship level includes a limited number of attendee badges, ensuring a highly curated and balanced group of participants.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Expect another year of bold, candid discussions—this is not a conference of scripted presentations. We’ve enhanced the 2026 agenda with new formats and even more opportunities for direct, high-impact exchanges among attendees.

At DCLF, there are no exhibit halls, no press, no recordings, and no distractions—just substance and strategy.

You can expect:

Provocative panels with C-suite executives
Off-the-record insights and open Q&A sessions
Meaningful peer-to-peer dialogue in an intimate setting

If you want to be in the room where it happens, there’s no substitute for being there in person.

GET STARTED

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We look forward to welcoming you to Miami in March 2026.

Drug Channels News Roundup, December 2025: The Net Pricing Drug Channel (#NPDC) Era, LillyDirect, My $0.02 on New MFPs, PBMs in Medicaid—and DCLF 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Happy New Year, everyone!

As always, thank you for welcoming Drug Channels into your inboxes, browsers, and apps. I’m continually inspired by the diverse and thoughtful people who follow, share, and challenge our work. Our DCI community now includes more than 110,000 subscribers and followers across the industry. If you haven't already done so, you can stay connected by signing up for an email subscription or following me on LinkedIn.

We loved bringing you our analysis and curated links throughout 2025, and we hope you enjoyed engaging with us—and with one another—across the DCI community.

Stay tuned! In addition to our second Drug Channels Leadership Forum, we have several exciting announcements coming your way in 2026.

Wishing you and your family health and happiness,
Adam and the DCI team

In our final roundup of 2025:

The gross-to-net bubble is deflating. Prepare for the Net Pricing Drug Channels (#NPDC).

Inside LillyDirect and DTC pharma

Inflated savings from the Inflation Reduction Act’s second set of prices

PBMs’ surprising resilience in Medicaid

Plus: We're getting ready for the second Drug Channels Leadership Forum! Have you submitted your invite request yet?

P.S. Join my nearly 67,000 LinkedIn followers for daily links to neat stuff, along with sharp and thoughtful commentary from the DCI community.
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340B Hit $81 Billion in 2024: Why CMS and the IRA Are Poised to Cool the Program’s Runaway Growth (VIDEO)

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 13:14:00 +0000

Yesterday, I published 340B Hit $81 Billion in 2024 (+23%): Why CMS and the IRA Are Poised to Cool the Program’s Runaway Growth.

For those who prefer watching to reading, I asked AI to turn our latest 340B analysis into a tidy little video.

Let me know what you think of this format and whether you'd like to see more.

Click here if you can't see the video below.

340B Hit $81 Billion in 2024 (+23%): Why CMS and the IRA Are Poised to Cool the Program’s Runaway Growth

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Whoa. The 340B Drug Pricing Program has once again given new meaning to the word “skyrocketing.”

For 2024, discounted purchases under the 340B program reached a record $81.4 billion—an astounding $15.1 billion (+23%) higher than 2023. The gross-to-net difference between list prices and discounted 340B purchases—a proxy for funds available to covered entities—also grew, to $66.4 billion (+$6.0 billion). Hospitals again accounted for 87% of 340B purchases.

How big is the program? 340B purchases are now more than 50% larger than Medicaid’s net prescription drug spending. The program now accounts for nearly one-fifth of the total U.S. gross-to-net bubble.

But thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), 340B’s day of reckoning is coming soon. I expect 2026 to be the first year of structural 340B pressure as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continues its regulatory takeover of the 340B program. What’s more, I expect the program’s out-of-control growth rate to slow and for some long-overdue transparency to enter this notoriously opaque program.

Read on for our full analysis—and why the 340B swell may finally be breaking.
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