U.S. Prescription Drug Prices Remain High Vs. Canadian Pharmacy Costs; Consumers Average 65% Savings Buying from Canada

Aug. Campaign for Personal Prescription Importation Benchmark Pricing Study Shows Significant Price Gap Among 10 Commonly Prescribed Brand-Name Drugs

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ, UNITED STATES, August 21, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Continued high prescription drug prices in the United States are resulting in a large affordability gap between American pharmacies and licensed Canadian pharmacies, according to a newly released pricing study from the Campaign for Personal Prescription Importation (CPPI).

The nonprofit organization’s August 2026 Benchmark Prescription Drug Price Study found that U.S. consumers purchasing any of 10 commonly prescribed brand-name medications from licensed Canadian pharmacies can save an average of 65% compared with GoodRx and Amazon Pharmacy prices in the U.S.

The CPPI study compared 90-day supplies of 10 commonly prescribed brand-name medications used to treat chronic conditions including Type 2 diabetes, blood clots, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, overactive bladder, fungal infections and hormone replacement therapy, showing how quickly U.S. prescription prices can change.

"What’s especially concerning is that the gap between U.S. and Canadian drug prices remains incredibly high,” said Ken Hunter, Executive Director of CPPI. “Despite recent claims that overall U.S. drug pricing has fallen slightly, the overall cost of healthcare – and of many brand-name pharmaceuticals – is still overwhelmingly unaffordable to many average Americans.

“In fact, while Canadian pharmacy prices remained stable across our 10 benchmark drugs, several U.S. drug prices increased substantially, making affordable prescription access even more difficult for millions of Americans," Hunter added.

Continuing Nationwide Prescription Drug Affordability Concerns:
According to a national survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), 59% of U.S. adults say they are worried about being able to afford prescription drugs – the highest level recorded by KFF since it began tracking the question in 2018. The survey also found that 43% of adults reported taking at least one cost-saving measure because of prescription drug costs, including delaying or not filling prescriptions, using over-the-counter medications instead, or cutting pills and skipping doses to stretch medications.

"Those statistics represent people making impossible choices between paying for medications and paying for groceries, housing, or other necessities," Hunter said. "When patients begin delaying treatment, splitting pills, or abandoning prescriptions altogether because of cost, affordability becomes a public health issue – not simply a financial one."

Prices for the 10 common medications became even more expensive in the U.S. since the organization's Mar. 2026 survey, further increasing the financial advantage of purchasing from licensed Canadian online pharmacies.

Among the most notable changes:
• Rybelsus (7 mg, 90-day supply, treats Type 2 diabetes) – This drug experienced one of the largest price increases in the benchmark. The GoodRx cash price increased to $3,042 in Aug. from $2,904 in Mar., while the Amazon Pharmacy price stayed above $3,000. With Canadian pricing remaining stable, consumer savings increased significantly to 74% from 60% in just five months.
• Xifaxan (550 mg, 180 tablets/90-day supply, treats irritable bowel syndrome) – It continued to rank among the costliest medications in the study. Amazon Pharmacy pricing increased to $12,346.05 in Aug. from $11,233.90 in Mar., while Canadian pricing remained unchanged, increasing consumer savings to 79% from 78%.
• Several additional benchmark drugs – including Jublia, Xarelto, and others – also experienced higher U.S. prices during the five-month period, while Canadian pharmacy prices in CPPI's study remained largely unchanged.

Additional drugs included in the August 2026 study were Myrbetriq, Jardiance, Farxiga, Trintellix, Premarin, and Eliquis.

A complete comparison chart for all 10 benchmark prescription drugs is available at: https://shorturl.at/TflG5.

For more information on safe importation and to join (for free) the fight for affordable medications, visit www.PersonalImportation.org.

Methodology:
Prices obtained Aug. 2026 for 90-day supplies. Amazon pricing is for delivery to N.J.; GoodRx pricing is from N.J. pharmacies using cash price with the lowest after-coupon discount price; Canadian mail-order pricing uses the average of a cross-section of pharmacies certified by Canadian International Pharmacy Assn. (CIPA.com) and is for Health Canada-approved, brand-name products dispensed by a pharmacy licensed in Canada. Savings based on average of GoodRx and Amazon prices. All registered trademarks referred to herein belong to their respective owners.

About CPPI:
The Campaign for Personal Prescription Importation (CPPI), based in Hillsborough, N.J., is a national nonprofit patient advocacy organization that fights for Americans' access to safe, affordable prescription medications from Canada for personal use. Tens of millions of Americans – especially the elderly and others on fixed incomes – struggle to pay the very high price of prescription medications in the U.S. CPPI is their voice. For more information and to join us: www.PersonalImportation.org.

Ken Hunter
Campaign for Personal Prescription Importation
+1 202-765-3290
info@PersonalImportation.org