Increases to both wholesale and net drug prices trended downward in this year's second quarter, according to STAT.
The quarter saw a 3.1 percent increase in wholesale drug prices, compared to 4.6 percent at the same time last year. Pricing actions were all crowded around zero, a more extreme decline in wholesale prices than previous cycles, STAT reported.
Net prices also fell by 5.8 percent, compared to 6.1 percent in last year's second quarter.
These trends are reflective of an increase in pressure from politicians on the pharmaceutical industry and pharmacy benefit managers to change their drug pricing policies, according to STAT. The wholesale price slowdown is likely to continue through the 2020 election and possibly longer, if drug pricing remains a political priority.
The drop in wholesale and net prices can also be partially attributed to the fact that drugmakers didn't put price hikes on 47 percent of products, an "unprecedented" number, according to STAT.
The second quarter was also unusual because "literally" no medicines, companies or market segments caused increases in net prices, STAT reported. All significant moves in the market contributed to drops in net pricing.
Read the full report here.
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