Healthcare Insights
Top medications prescribed by oncologists
Oncologists prescribe a range of medications based on the specific needs of cancer patients, with treatment decisions guided by factors like disease stage, tumor type, and patient health considerations.
Using intelligence from the Definitive Healthcare Atlas Prescription Claims dataset, we’ve ranked the top 10 medications most commonly prescribed by oncologists and dispensed to U.S. patients in 2024, billed under the prescription benefit. Note that this list excludes injectable and infusible treatments, which are typically administered in clinical settings and billed under medical claims, rather than prescription claims.
| Rank | Drug name | % of oncologist prescribed medications dispensed in U.S. | Explore dataset |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anastrozole | 6.40% | Explore |
| 2 | Eliquis | 4.10% | Explore |
| 3 | Letrozole | 3.80% | Explore |
| 4 | Tamoxifen citrate | 3.00% | Explore |
| 5 | Dexamethasone | 2.70% | Explore |
| 6 | Prednisone | 2.60% | Explore |
| 7 | Prochlorperazine maleate | 2.60% | Explore |
| 8 | Ondansetron hydrochloride | 2.30% | Explore |
| 9 | Gabapentin | 2.20% | Explore |
| 10 | Ondansetron | 2.10% | Explore |
Fig. 1. Data is from the Definitive Healthcare Atlas Prescription Claims product for 2024. Data accessed April 2025.
What medications are the most commonly prescribed by oncologists?
Anastrozole tops the list of medications most prescribed by oncologists and dispensed to U.S. patients, based on drugs billed under the prescription benefit. It is used primarily to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancer by reducing estrogen levels. Eliquis, ranked second, is an anticoagulant often used to prevent cancer-associated blood clots. Letrozole, another aromatase inhibitor, ranks third and is also used to treat certain types of breast cancer by lowering estrogen in the body.
What types of medications do oncologists prescribe?
As seen on the list, many medications prescribed by oncologists and dispensed to U.S. patients are for treating a type of cancer. Oncologists also help with chemotherapy regimens to fight the cancer affecting their patients. From the list, hydroxyurea for example, is used to treat certain types of leukemia.
In addition to specific cancer medications, the drugs on this list also reveal the other symptoms and conditions patients with cancer may have to manage. Medications such as ondansetron help with nausea and vomiting symptoms from chemotherapy treatments. Pain medications like oxycodone hydrochloride and steroids like prednisone can help patients feel more comfortable. We also see a lot of oncologists prescribing Eliquis; this is mostly as a preventative measure for venous thromboembolism (VTE).
Advancements in cancer treatment and new cancer drugs are continuously being developed to fight one of the leading causes of death in the country. Insights that biopharma, medical device, and imaging companies derive from the Atlas Dataset help them better understand diagnoses and prescription trends, segment and prioritize key accounts, and reach the right healthcare providers.
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