Payers in all countries are increasing their pressure on manufacturers to cut
prices, but prescription drug pricing and reimbursement policies vary markedly
among the leading pharmaceutical markets. To best determine pricing,
pharmaceutical companies need to be aware of international price
differentials. Many studies have compared retail prices in different
countries, but international comparisons of pharmaceutical prices at the
ex-manufacturer level are relatively uncommon. This chartbook - our eighth
annual analysis of international drug prices - fills that need by comparing
the prices of 200 of the world's best-selling branded drugs across 13
therapeutic areas and categories in seven countries. The report features 40
data-rich tables and figures that provide price comparisons in seven major
markets and by select therapeutic area.
Questions Answered
In 2010, European prescription drug prices averaged just 50% of U.S.
prices. How did prices vary among the five leading European markets? Which
therapeutic areas had the highest and lowest prices relative to U.S. prices?
Japanese drug prices averaged 66% of U.S. prices in 2010. How many
drugs were more expensive in Japan than in the United States? What impact will
the most recent biennial price revision have on drug prices in Japan?
The percentage price differential between the United States and other
leading pharmaceutical markets is generally much narrower for biologics than
for small-molecule drugs. How do prices of monoclonal antibodies in Europe
and Japan compare with U.S. prices? How great is the percentage price
differential for recombinant proteins?
Payers in all markets will be looking to increase pressure on
manufacturers to moderate prescription drug prices. How fast have drug
prices increased in the United States in recent years? What impact have price
cuts had on the pharmaceutical industry in Japan? What concerns do drug
manufacturers in Japan have with regard to the next biennial price revision,
scheduled for April 2012?
Scope
Overall price differentials among markets: ex-manufacturer prices
of 200 best-selling drugs in six major markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain,
United Kingdom, Japan) relative to U.S. prices.
Pricing hierarchy in individual markets: U.S. price of each of the
200 drugs under review as a percentage of average prices in the six other
markets under review; pricing hierarchy in individual European markets, Japan,
and the five European markets overall as a percentage of U.S. prices.
Price variations by therapeutic area: price variations among the
200 drugs in our analysis divided into 13 categories: cardiovascular drugs,
metabolic disease therapies, immune and inflammatory disease therapies,
infectious disease therapies, neurology drugs, psychiatric drugs,
antineoplastic drugs, treatments for the side effects of chemotherapy,
gastrointestinal drugs, genitourinary drugs, pain therapies, vaccines,
miscellaneous other drugs.
Prices of biologics: prices as a percentage of U.S. prices for 33
biologics (10 monoclonal antibodies and 23 recombinant proteins) in the six
other markets under study.
Outlook and implications: implications of U.S. healthcare reform
for drug prices in the United States; ongoing strict government control of
drug prices in Europe; impact of the most recent pricing reforms in Japan.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Strategic Considerations
Stakeholder Implications
Overview
Overall Price Differentials Among Markets
Pricing Hierarchy in Individual Markets
Price Variations by Therapeutic Area
Cardiovascular Drugs
Metabolic Disease Therapies
Immune and Inflammatory Disease Therapies
Infectious Disease Therapies
Neurology Drugs
Psychiatric Drugs
Antineoplastic Drugs
Treatments for the Side Effects of Chemotherapy
Gastrointestinal Drugs
Genitourinary Drugs
Pain Therapies
Vaccines
Miscellaneous Other Drugs
Prices of Biologics
Outlook and Implications for the Pharmaceutical Industry
Appendix - Tables
Figures
1. Average Pharmaceutical Prices in the Major Markets as a
Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
2. Average Prices of Leading Cardiovascular Drugs in the Major
Markets as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
3. Average Prices of Leading Metabolic Disease Therapies in the
Major Markets as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
4. Average Prices of Leading Immune and Inflammatory Disease
Therapies in the Major Markets as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
5. Average Prices of Leading Infectious Disease Therapies in the
Major Markets as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
6. Average Prices of Leading Neurological Disease Therapies in the
Major Markets as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
7. Average Prices of Leading Psychiatric Disease Therapies in the
Major Markets as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
8. Average Prices of Leading Antineoplastic Drugs in the Major
Markets as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
9. Average Prices of Leading Treatments for the Side Effects of
Chemotherapy in the Major Markets as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
10. Average Prices of Leading Gastrointestinal Drugs in the Major
Markets as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
11. Average Prices of Leading Genitourinary Drugs in the Major
Markets as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
12. Average Prices of Leading Pain Therapies in the Major Markets
as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
13. Average Prices of Leading Vaccines in the Major Markets as a
Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
14. Average Prices of Miscellaneous Other Drugs in the Major
Markets as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
15. Average Prices of Leading Biologics, Small-Molecule Drugs,
Vaccines, and Pharmaceuticals Overall in the Major Markets as a Percentage of
U.S. Prices, 2010
16. Pharmaceutical Pricing Trends in the United States, March 31,
2006, to March 31, 2010
Tables (Appendix)
1. Dosages Used for Pricing Calculations
2. Ex-Manufacturer Prices of Select Best-Selling Prescription Drugs
Expressed as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
3. U.S. Prices as a Percentage of Average Prices in the Other Six
Major Pharmaceutical Markets, 2010
4. French Prices as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
5. German Prices as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
6. Italian Prices as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
7. Spanish Prices as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
8. U.K. Prices as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
9. Average European Prices as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
10. Japanese Prices as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
11. Prices of Leading Cardiovascular Drugs in the Major Markets as
a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
12. Prices of Leading Metabolic Disease Therapies in the Major
Markets as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
13. Prices of Leading Immune and Inflammatory Disease Therapies in
the Major Markets as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
14. Prices of Leading Infectious Disease Therapies in the Major
Markets as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
15. Prices of Leading Neurological Disease Therapies in the Major
Markets as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
16. Prices of Leading Psychiatric Drugs in the Major Markets as a
Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
17. Prices of Leading Antineoplastic Drugs in the Major Markets as
a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
18. Prices of Leading Treatments for the Side Effects of
Chemotherapy in the Major Markets as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
19. Prices of Leading Gastrointestinal Drugs in the Major Markets
as a Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
20. Prices of Leading Genitourinary Drugs in the Major Markets as a
Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
21. Prices of Leading Pain Therapies in the Major Markets as a
Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
22. Prices of Leading Vaccines in the Major Markets as a Percentage
of U.S. Prices, 2010
23. Prices of Miscellaneous Other Drugs in the Major Markets as a
Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
24. Prices of Leading Biologics in the Major Markets as a
Percentage of U.S. Prices, 2010
