The blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda can cost over $150,000

<p>Last December, President Donald Trump convened a meeting of pharmaceutical executives with the goal of getting them to lower the cost of prescription drugs. A few weeks later, one patient battling lung cancer checked into a California clinic for an infusion of <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/04/14/merck-keytruda-pricing-patents-dosage-drug-cost-cancer/89507794007/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Merck &amp; Co.'s blockbuster cancer drug, Keytruda</a>. When the bill arrived, the clinic's charge for a 400 mg dose dominated the page: It was just over $162,000.&nbsp;While Brown only owed about $2,000 herself, the six-figure charges show how quickly prices for cutting-edge medical treatments can balloon in the U.S. health care system. USA TODAY joined the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists in their year-long, reporting effort looking into rising healthcare costs around the world. USA TODAY Health Reporter Ken Alltucker joined The Excerpt to share his insights.</p><p>Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:podcasts@usatoday.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">podcasts@usatoday.com</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>Episode transcript&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/04/15/the-amount-americans-pay-for-drugs-like-keytruda-can-greatly-vary-the-excerpt/89623074007/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">available here</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>