Pricing

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Making Our Medicines Accessible to the Patients Who Need Them

The cost of health care, including prescription drug prices, was a topic of public debate throughout 2018. As health systems evolve, patients are being asked to take on higher out-of-pocket costs which heighten concerns about affordability.

Pfizer's approach to medicine pricing is informed by two core principles: that medicines help people live longer, healthier, more productive lives; and that patients should have affordable access to the medicines they need.

We define the value of our therapies by the benefits they offer patients and society. Our innovative medicines treat complex conditions such as cancer and rare diseases, among others, providing immense health benefits for hard-to-treat diseases, and are often safer and more effective than other treatment options.

We price our medicines by thoughtfully balancing considerations such as access, affordability and the ability to invest in future cures. We advocate with payers for access to our medicines at costs that patients can afford, offer discounts, and when there are access or affordability issues, provide patient assistance programs.

Our highest priority is making our medicines accessible to patients who need them. Only then can the impact of our science and innovation bring value to their lives and to those that care for them.

Why do drug prices sometimes change?

There are a number of reasons why medicine prices may change over time. These may include, among others:

Discovery of new uses and new patient populations through both trial data and real-world evidence
Changes in local laws and mandates
New or expiring patents
New formulations
Improvements in the manufacturing and supply chain
Market-based factors