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June 2026
Trends in Utilization, Cost-Effectiveness, and Budget Impact of PCSK9 Inhibitors
The US market-based price for an injectable PCSK9 inhibitor is less than the health system and societal value it provides.
In this Center for Pharmacoeconomics Spotlight, we examined how utilization, price, cost-effectiveness, and health system budget impact have changed over time for the PCSK9 inhibitor class.
- Bottom Line: For biotech companies and investors, this analysis indicates that future entrants with compelling value propositions—both in cost effectiveness terms and in real world budget impact—can still command attractive pricing in competitive markets.
- Utilization and spending data were retrieved from the Medicare Part D by Drug dataset for the years 2016 to 2023.
- The dosage units dispensed for the class of PCSK9 inhibitors started low and only slightly increased from 2016 to 2018. More substantial increases in utilization started to occur between 2019 and 2020 and have continued since.
- Sizable net price declines occurred from 2018 to 2020, after which the net price seemed to plateau around $4,500 per year.
- In the full report, we provide estimates of the cost-effectiveness and health system budget impact over time and when the utilization began to ramp up.
- Important considerations: This is not to suggest that a cost-effectiveness threshold or budget impact threshold is or should be used for decision making. This analysis is simply looking at trends over time and providing some quantitative evidence as to what the market was willing to pay per health outcome gained for this class of drugs for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. These estimates would be different for a class of drugs with different characteristics or for a condition with different characteristics.
For details on obtaining full access to the report, contact us via email at cpe@medacorp.com.
Disclosures
The Center for Pharmacoeconomics (“CPE”) is a division of MEDACorp LLC (“MEDACorp”). CPE is committed to advancing the understanding and evaluating the economic and societal benefits of healthcare treatments in the United States. Through its thought leadership, evaluations, and advisory services, CPE supports decisions intended to improve societal outcomes. MEDACorp, an affiliate of Leerink Partners LLC (“Leerink Partners”), maintains a global network of independent healthcare professionals providing industry and market insights to Leerink Partners and its clients. The information provided by the Center for Pharmacoeconomics is intended for the sole use of the recipient, is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute investment or other advice or a recommendation or offer to buy or sell any security, product, or service. The information has been obtained from sources that we believe reliable, but we do not represent that it is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. All information is subject to change without notice, and any opinions and information contained herein are as of the date of this material, and MEDACorp does not undertake any obligation to update them. This document may not be reproduced, edited, or circulated without the express written consent of MEDACorp.
© 2026 MEDACorp LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Disclosures
The Center for Pharmacoeconomics (“CPE”) is a division of MEDACorp LLC (“MEDACorp”). CPE is committed to advancing the understanding and evaluating the economic and societal benefits of healthcare treatments in the United States. Through its thought leadership, evaluations, and advisory services, CPE supports decisions intended to improve societal outcomes. MEDACorp, an affiliate of Leerink Partners LLC (“Leerink Partners”), maintains a global network of independent healthcare professionals providing industry and market insights to Leerink Partners and its clients. The information provided by the Center for Pharmacoeconomics is intended for the sole use of the recipient, is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute investment or other advice or a recommendation or offer to buy or sell any security, product, or service. The information has been obtained from sources that we believe reliable, but we do not represent that it is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. All information is subject to change without notice, and any opinions and information contained herein are as of the date of this material, and MEDACorp does not undertake any obligation to update them. This document may not be reproduced, edited, or circulated without the express written consent of MEDACorp.
© 2026 MEDACorp LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Disclosures
The Center for Pharmacoeconomics (“CPE”) is a division of MEDACorp LLC (“MEDACorp”). CPE is committed to advancing the understanding and evaluating the economic and societal benefits of healthcare treatments in the United States. Through its thought leadership, evaluations, and advisory services, CPE supports decisions intended to improve societal outcomes. MEDACorp, an affiliate of Leerink Partners LLC (“Leerink Partners”), maintains a global network of independent healthcare professionals providing industry and market insights to Leerink Partners and its clients. The information provided by the Center for Pharmacoeconomics is intended for the sole use of the recipient, is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute investment or other advice or a recommendation or offer to buy or sell any security, product, or service. The information has been obtained from sources that we believe reliable, but we do not represent that it is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. All information is subject to change without notice, and any opinions and information contained herein are as of the date of this material, and MEDACorp does not undertake any obligation to update them. This document may not be reproduced, edited, or circulated without the express written consent of MEDACorp.
© 2026 MEDACorp LLC. All Rights Reserved.
