Preorder DCI’s New 2026-27 Economic Report on Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Specialty Distributors

On October 12, 2026, Drug Channels Institute will release our 2026-27 Economic Report on Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Specialty Distributors.

The U.S. prescription drug market continues to expand, but the foundations of the drug channel are shifting. Legislative intervention, pricing realignment, vertical integration, and alternative payment models are accelerating a transition away from a rebate-driven system built on high list prices and toward a marketplace increasingly shaped by net prices.

DCI’s seventeenth annual report examines what these changes mean for the pharmaceutical wholesalers and specialty distributors at the center of the U.S. drug channel. With nine chapters, more than 400 pages, 193 exhibits, and more than 930 endnotes, this report is unmatched in scope and depth.

Preorder today to secure the fully updated, revised, and expanded 2026-27 edition at special discounted prices. Preorders also ensure early access. You will receive the report before its October 12 release date.

Download a free pre-publication report overview
(Industry trends, What's New, Table of Contents, List of Exhibits)

Review pricing and license options–and preorder now

You can pay online with all major credit cards. Contact us if you prefer to pay by corporate check or ACH.

Special preorder and launch pricing discounts will be available through October 26, 2026. Act now to maximize your savings.

The chart below highlights the vertical alignment and diverse roles of Cencora, Cardinal Health, and McKesson within the U.S. healthcare system. The circled numbers identify the report chapters that explain and analyze each business.

[Click to enlarge]

The new edition provides the most current financial and industry data about pharmaceutical distribution. Among the major findings and expanded areas of coverage:

• Drug distribution revenues for the Big Three public wholesalers are projected to reach $933 billion in 2026, although growth has slowed from double-digit to mid-single-digit rates.

• The largest wholesalers have invested more than $20 billion in physician management services organizations, transforming their roles in buy-and-bill markets.

• Changes in drug pricing, direct-to-patient models, and other emerging channels are accelerating the industry’s transition toward a Net Pricing Drug Channel.

• The report examines the evolving economics of biosimilars, cell and gene therapies, the 340B Drug Pricing Program, and implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act.

• DCI’s proprietary economic models reveal differences in the business strategies, market positions, financial performance, and underlying profitability of Cencora, Cardinal Health, and McKesson.

There are 193 exhibits in the 2026-27 edition, compared with 187 in last year’s report. Most are new or fully updated.

See pages 9 and 10 of the free report overview for full details about the notable new material in the 2026-27 edition.

Thank you for your continued interest in our research. Please email us (dcisupport@hmpglobal.com) with any questions before purchasing. We look forward to sharing this year’s insights with you.