A new ICER Launch Price and Access report, built with West Health and supported by analysis of IQVIA longitudinal real-world data, found persistent disconnects between high new drug launch prices and timely access—especially for Medicare beneficiaries. ICER reported a median 2025 launch price of $250,000 for drugs at launch. Using longitudinal prescription data, the analysis found only about one-third of outpatient prescriptions were filled within 30 days, with Medicare patients facing steeper barriers and paying two to five times more out-of-pocket than commercially insured patients. The report also fed discussion about direct-to-patient distribution models and how they interact with affordability. A parallel PHIL survey of biopharma professionals addressed DTP infrastructure growth but continued to highlight patient out-of-pocket and copay-related barriers. In the webinar discussion, stakeholders noted that copay assistance and other financial programs are under payer pressure and may not be universally accessible across commercial populations.