A Price Comparison Study of Recent Drugs in EU5, 2008-2012

Objectives To compare prices of new drugs between France and the other EU4. Methods Study used IMS MIDAS database for economic data such as prices and sales volume and LEEM database (French association of the pharmaceutical manufacturers) for the ASMR scale (HAS assessment of the drug's added value/innovation). All the products applying for the first time for reimbursement by the French Public health insurance between January 2008 and June 2012 were included in the study (except those restricted to hospital use in France) and having an ASMR rating and an official price in June 2012. Paasche and Laspeyres price-index were calculated for drugs with: a) high ASMR, b) ASMR IV, c) ASMR V and d) all drugs. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to measure the effect of different weighting options. Results A total of 107 products (245 dosages) were included in this study. Fifty-one (48%) have been found available in the community pharmacies of all the 5 countries. The availability analysis by pair of countries (France + another) is higher: 94 for Germany, 79 for UK, 71 for Spain and 69 for Italy (Italy often restricts drug's access to hospitals only). French prices are generally equal to or lower than prices in the four other markets, which shows a relative price index decrease for France since 2008 studies. The only significant exception are UK prices for products ranked in France ASMR 1-2-3 (20% less expensive). Prices are regularly and significantly higher in Germany than in all other countries. Interestingly, the highest disparities in prices occur for the ones ranked as most innovative in France – while ASMR IV have surprisingly consistent prices across EU5. Conclusions European patients don't have consistent access to the same drugs in retail market, and the drugs considered innovative in France show a large price index disparity across EU5, with UK prices being 20% lower.