Staying Ahead of Drug Trend: Expert Insights from the Navitus Webinar

Drug trend is never static, and the current environment demonstrates how quickly forces can shift. Costs are under pressure, new therapies are entering the market and utilization keeps rising.

This marked the 10th consecutive year that Navitus has published the Drug Trend Report to help bring clarity and understanding to the shifting dynamics. In an industry where detailed, transparent data isn’t always easy to find, Navitus remains committed to sharing a clear, unfiltered view of what’s driving pharmacy spend.

With all of those factors in play, Navitus recently conducted a webinar for clients, consultants and industry partners to more closely examine what we published earlier this year in our 2025 Drug Trend Report, as well as thoughts on what those trends will bring in the future.

The webinar provided a chance to go deeper, pairing the numbers with context from our clinical and specialty experts. They walked through key drivers behind overall trend, where they’ve seen pressure and relief as well as strategies that helped many clients outperform the market. What emerged was a consistent theme: While the environment is challenging, the right combination of clinical discipline, proactive strategy and aligned incentives can deliver meaningful results.

What’s Driving Overall Drug Trend?

Despite persistent cost pressures, Navitus reported an overall 2025 drug trend of 8.4%, below the double-digit increases seen elsewhere. Specialty trend rose 11.1%, while non-specialty increased 5.6%. Importantly, 32% of clients achieved negative trend, and 44% held increases to 5% or less.

A key driver across both specialty and non-specialty categories continues to be utilization growth.

“At the end of the day, we’re continuing to see more and more members using their pharmacy benefit,” said Imke Scheepers, Navitus Senior Clinical Consultant Pharmacist. “That’s a positive from an access and care perspective, but it does apply cost pressure.”

Scheepers also highlighted the ongoing rise in medication costs.

“Manufacturers continue to take 5% to 7% list price increases annually, and new therapies are launching at higher and higher prices,” she said, also discussing how the dual pressures of higher utilization and rising unit costs continue to shape overall trend.

Biosimilars Deliver Meaningful Savings

One of the biggest success stories in 2025 was biosimilars. Navitus delivered $56 million in savings through execution of focused formulary strategies and proactive patient and provider engagement.

“We aggressively set formularies, educated patients and moved them to the lowest-cost, best therapies,” said Ben Heiser, CEO of Lumicera Health Services. “That’s core to who we are, with transparency and low net cost.”

Scheepers said, “With 98% biosimilar conversion, this became a very significant cost saver across our client base.”

Heiser also discussed how the approach of combining strategy, education and follow-through will continue to play an important role as more biosimilars enter the market.

Demand Fuels Specialty Trend Growth

Specialty continues to dominate trend growth, accounting for more than half of total drug spend for many clients. While unit costs decreased slightly, utilization surged.

“It’s great to see unit cost decreases, but utilization is really what’s driving specialty trend,” Heiser said. “We’re seeing growth in immunology, oncology and rare-disease therapies.”

Looking ahead, the new-drug pipeline remains strong.

“Over 75% of drugs in development are in the specialty space,” Heiser said, “and many come with significant costs. Managing utilization while driving down unit cost will be critical.”

GLP-1s Reshape Non-specialty Trend

GLP-1 therapies were the primary driver of non-specialty trend. These medications, used for diabetes and obesity, are rapidly becoming the standard of care and are nearing utilization levels of long-established treatments.

“GLP-1s are the single largest contributor to cost growth this year,” said Laura Jester, Vice President of Clinical Services at Navitus. “Demand remains high and persistent.”

At the same time, she noted, the category is evolving.

Jester reinforced that Navitus is helping clients navigate this through flexible strategies that balance cost control and member access. “We’re seeing sustained demand, new indications and ongoing innovation, all of which will continue to impact trend,” she said.

Transparency in Drug Trend Still Matters

At the 10-year milestone for the Navitus Drug Trend Report, its transparency is becoming unique in the industry and a differentiator for Navitus.

“This is who we are,” Heiser said. “Publishing this level of detail is part of our commitment to clients.”

Jester said, “Providing clarity in what can be an opaque industry is critical. This report helps validate trends and support better decision-making.”

For Scheepers, the value is external and internal.

“It gives clients the data they need, but it also holds us accountable to continue delivering results,” she said.

What’s Ahead for Drug Trend?

As Navitus and its partners look forward, key trends, including specialty growth, GLP-1 demand and the continued emergence of biosimilars and generics, will continue shaping the market.

“You have to take advantage of opportunities as they come,” Scheepers said. “That’s how you drive sustainable savings over time.”

Drug trend isn’t slowing, but it can be managed. From biosimilars to clinical oversight to smarter benefit design, the levers are there. When applied thoughtfully, they deliver results. As new therapies emerge and demand grows, success will increasingly depend on staying a step ahead, with data to guide decisions, early action and a focus on balancing cost and access to ensure positive health outcomes.