Big Pharma to Hike Prices on 350 Drugs in 2026 as Oregon’s Transparency Law Shows What’s Driving the Increases

As ‘Big Pharma’ hikes the price of hundreds of medications for 2026, Oregon has reinstated its drug transparency law, so that the reasons for big increases and high-cost drugs must be reported and fully explained.

By leveraging a paper trail that Big Pharma must follow, Oregon is ensuring that it protects both purchasers and the public from unnecessary price hikes.

Prices Will Increase On No Less Than 350 Branded Medications

Pharmaceutical companies are planning to increase the price on at least 350 branded medications, 100 more than the 2025 increases, by an average of 4%.

Increases of More Than 10% Can be Expected on COVID Vaccinations and Drugs to Treat Breast Cancer and Migraines

According to Reuters, Pfizer leads the price hike, with increases for about 80 drugs. Its COVID-19 vaccination, known as Comirnaty, has been increased by about 15%, along with its COVID-19 antiviral, Paxlovid. Also on the Pfizer list are medications for breast cancer and migraines.

Also subject to large price increases will be Ibrance for breast cancer, Nurtec for migraines, and hospital-administered pain relief medication such as Morphine and Hydromorphone.

Although the Trump administration has reached agreements with 14 drugmakers to reduce costs for Medicaid and cash customers, those reductions will hardly be noticeable on overall spending, according to analysts.

Oregon Was Freed to Enforce HB 4005 After the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Overturned a Lawsuit from a Drug Makers Trade Group.

In August 2025, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lawsuit by the trade group, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, to stop the enforcement of reporting requirements dictated in Oregon’s House Bill 4005.

The ruling allowed Oregon to enforce its 2018 Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act, which requires drug makers to disclose information and reasons for price increases.

The Circuit Court found that the Oregon law will ‘reduce information asymmetries in the pharmaceutical market and provide drug purchasers with leverage in negotiations with manufacturers.’

Oregon’s Attorney General, Dan Rayfield, praised the Circuit Court ruling, calling it a transparency win for what people have to pay at pharmacies.

Rayfield pointed out that the cost of living, which included prescription drug prices, was continually climbing and that the ruling ensured pricing transparency.

These were the highest total spend drugs reported by Oregon insurers in 2024:

“It’s a significant win for Oregon,` and our Department of Justice will continue to work every day to uphold this law and to protect working families in our state,” said Rayfield in a statement issued at the time of the Circuit Court ruling.