Current Drivers in Medication Use, Spending

When it comes to current trends in medication spending and use, oncology drugs lead the pack as the most expensive for patients and plan sponsors, with immunology prescriptions following shortly behind. Although much less expensive, the use of medications for diabetes and weight loss is continuously increasing as cardiometabolic conditions become more prominent across various populations.

According to Michael Kleinrock, lead director of research at IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science, trends in drug use and spending are constantly changing. That is why he and his team at IQVIA contributed to the report Understanding the Use of Medicines in the US 2025. He says the report is so detailed that it can serve as a doorstop if you print it out.

“This is something we’ve been doing every year,” Kleinrock told Drug Topics.

In part 2 of our interview with Kleinrock, we took a deep dive into the IQVIA report and discussed exactly which medication classes have been taking payers, patients, and particularly pharmacies by storm. In part 1, he shared insights regarding the report's importance and how there is significant value in differentiating drug use from drug spending.

For more on the trends of oncology, immunology, weight loss, biosimilar, and many more drug classes, watch the video with Kleinrock, learn about the current drivers of drug spending, and get a sneak peek of where these trends may be headed beyond 2025.

READ MORE: Drug Expenditures Must Be Addressed for State Spending Targets to Be Useful

Pharmacy practice is always changing. Stay ahead of the curve: Sign up for our free Drug Topics newsletter and get the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips straight to your inbox.

Reference

Understanding the use of medicines in the U.S. 2025. IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science. Accessed July 14, 2025. https://www.iqvia.com/insights/the-iqvia-institute/reports-and-publications/reports/understanding-the-use-of-medicines-in-the-us-2025