Drug pricing

Government cap on branded medicine prices may be unsustainable, warns ABPI

An ongoing cap on the price of branded medicines to the NHS “may not be sustainable” in the long term, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has said.…

Government slashes annual spend on generic price concessions by half in just one year

The Department of Health and Social Care has halved its expenditure on price concessions in the past year, according to a recent analysis.…

CMA warns drug companies against using discount schemes to maintain market dominance

The Competition and Markets Authority has warned drug companies against using anti-competitive discount schemes to protect dominant market position, after investigating discounts offered by the company that manufactures Remicade.…

Brexit uncertainty could be affecting surge in drugs on concessions list, warns PSNC

Uncertainty caused by Brexit may be “exacerbating” issues around medicines shortages, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has said.…

NHS denied £2m of savings after hydrocortisone suppliers enter anticompetitive agreements, finds CMA

The NHS was denied potential savings on hydrocortisone tablets after two suppliers entered into anticompetitive agreements, the Competition and Markets Authority has provisionally found.…

Government voices concerns about using legal powers for affordable access to cystic fibrosis drug

The government has said that using its legal power to “break the monopoly” held by drug company Vertex Pharmaceuticals over its combination cystic fibrosis treatment Orkambi would not represent “a quick solution”.ent Orkambi.…

CMA investigates 1,600% price increase of liothyronine over eight-year period

The Competition and Markets Authority has refined its window of investigation into the alleged “excessive and unfair pricing” of liothyronine tablets, which it says has seen the NHS overcharged by millions of pounds.…

DHSC to consult with pharmaceutical industry over generics price limiting powers

The Department of Health and Social Care will consult with the pharmaceutical industry over its plans to use new powers limiting the price of generics, the department’s permanent secretary has said.…

New voluntary pricing agreement could cut NHS drugs bill by almost £1bn a year

Patients could have early access to new medicines while the NHS is expected to save around £930m on its annual medicine bill under a new voluntary scheme to control pricing of branded medicines, which is expected to come into effect in January 2019.…

CMA closes investigation into alleged anticompetitive generic drug pricing practices

The Competition and Markets Authority has closed an investigation into alleged anticompetitive generic drug pricing after concluding that the case was not a good use of its resources.…