Pfizer to More Than Double Price of COVID-19 Drug Paxlovid to $1,390 per Course

Pfizer sets a new $1,390 list price for Paxlovid, a transition from being provided for free by the government, causing concerns of accessibility and potential insurance premium hikes.

Pfizer plans to hike the price of the COVID-19 medication Paxlovid to $1,390 per five-day treatment course as the US transitions to a commercial model, over doubling the previous government-subsidized rate of $529.
The pharmaceutical company asserts the price tag reflects the value the drug provides by reducing COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths, and emphasizes that many patients may pay less due to insurance coverages and rebate programs.
Pfizer also plans to extend a copay assistance program for eligible privately insured patients through to 2028, potentially allowing some to receive the medication for free.
Despite these assurances, experts and patient advocates express concern that the price increase may limit patient access to the drug, particularly for uninsured individuals.
Although the US government and Pfizer pledge to provide free Paxlovid to people on Medicare, Medicaid, and those uninsured until the end of 2024, the transition to a commercial market has raised concerns of potential healthcare cost increases for all Americans.