THE CRISIS OF RISING PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES: The anti-competitive tactics and price-gouging practices of Big Pharma have created a crisis of prescription drug affordability in America. Today, as many as one-in-four Americans are unable to afford their medications. Despite the mounting crisis, brand name drug makers continue increasing prices and fighting to evade responsibility. Big Pharma rang in the New Year by hiking prices on 2,167 prescription drugs in the first week of 2020 and one report found overall drug prices climbed by 10.5 percent over the first six months of 2019 alone – four times faster than the rate of inflation. Over those six months, prices increased on a whopping 3,443 drugs, compared to 2,919 drugs the previous year.