Tag: High cost medications

Approximately 140,000 Americans live with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a rare disease treated by select medications [1.9.1]. For many of these patients, the crucial question is, **is nintedanib a specialty drug?** The answer is unequivocally yes, due to its cost, complexity, and distribution channel [1.2.1, 1.2.2].

While less than 5% of the population uses them, specialty drugs account for at least half of all pharmaceutical spending in recent years [1.3.5]. Understanding **what are the characteristics of specialty drugs?** is crucial for navigating modern healthcare, as they represent a significant and growing part of treatment for complex conditions.

Accounting for a disproportionately large share of total drug spending—often over 50% despite representing a small fraction of prescriptions—specialty drugs are a critical and growing area of modern medicine. This guide helps answer the complex question: **Which drugs are considered specialty drugs?**