Cancer patients are among the most vulnerable to prescription drug cost increases — the medications involved are often extremely expensive, taken long-term, and have no generic alternatives. So the question of which oncology drugs are affected by the 2026 Section 232 pharmaceutical tariff is one of the most important questions this site exists to answer.
The picture is mixed: some of the most widely used cancer drugs come from Annex III MFN deal companies and pay 0%. Others come from companies that have not signed deals and could face the 100% default tariff.
Cancer Drugs at 0% (MFN Deal Companies)
Merck (Annex III):
- Keytruda (pembrolizumab) — The world's top-selling cancer drug. Merck signed an MFN deal. Keytruda pays 0%.
Bristol Myers Squibb (Annex III):
- Opdivo (nivolumab) — Major PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor. BMS has a deal. 0% tariff.
- Yervoy (ipilimumab) — CTLA-4 inhibitor for melanoma. 0%.
- Revlimid (lenalidomide) — Multiple myeloma. BMS acquired this via Celgene. 0%.
- Pomalyst (pomalidomide) — Multiple myeloma. 0%.
- Breyanzi (lisocabtagene, CAR-T) — Cell therapy, also specialty exempt. 0%.
Genentech/Roche (Annex III):
- Avastin (bevacizumab) — Colorectal, lung, ovarian cancers. 0%.
- Herceptin (trastuzumab) — HER2+ breast cancer. 0%.
- Perjeta (pertuzumab) — HER2+ breast cancer. 0%.
- Tecentriq (atezolizumab) — Multiple cancers. 0%.
- Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine) — ADC, also specialty exempt. 0%.
AstraZeneca (Annex III):
- Tagrisso (osimertinib) — EGFR-mutant lung cancer. 0%.
- Lynparza (olaparib) — BRCA-mutated cancers. 0%.
- Imfinzi (durvalumab) — Lung and bladder cancers. 0%.
- Calquence (acalabrutinib) — CLL. 0%.
Amgen (Annex III):
- Blincyto (blinatumomab) — B-cell ALL. 0%.
- Kyprolis (carfilzomib) — Multiple myeloma. 0%.
Cancer Drugs Potentially at Risk (No MFN Deal)
Pfizer (not Annex III):
- Ibrance (palbociclib) — HR+/HER2- breast cancer. Potential 100% tariff risk.
- Lorbrena (lorlatinib) — ALK+ lung cancer. Risk.
- Besylate (imatinib brand) — Though generic imatinib is fully exempt.
Johnson & Johnson (not Annex III):
- Darzalex (daratumumab) — Multiple myeloma. Risk.
- Imbruvica (ibrutinib) — J&J co-promotes with AbbVie; AbbVie has MFN deal, but J&J's share is complex.
- Erleada (apalutamide) — Prostate cancer. Risk.
Bayer (not Annex III):
- Nubeqa (darolutamide) — Prostate cancer. Risk.
- Vitrakvi (larotrectinib) — TRK fusion cancers. Risk.
Important Notes for Cancer Patients
Cell and gene therapies are specialty exempt. CAR-T therapies like Kymriah (Novartis, MFN) and Yescarta (Gilead, MFN) are protected both by company deal and specialty exemption.
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are specialty exempt. Drugs like Kadcyla, Padcev, and Enhertu are exempt from the tariff regardless of manufacturer deal status.
Orphan drugs are specialty exempt. Many rare cancer drugs qualify as orphan drugs (approved for conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 US patients) and are fully exempt.
The practical advice for cancer patients: verify your specific drug's status using the RxTariff drug search tool, and discuss any potential cost concerns with your oncologist and patient navigator well before the September 29 effective date. Patient assistance programs from most major oncology manufacturers remain available regardless of tariff status.