Pharmaceutical Pricing, Reimbursement, and Market Access News in the Fourth Quarter of 2009

Published by: Decision Resources

Published: Jan. 29, 2010 - 30 Pages

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Strategic Considerations

Stakeholder Implications

Overview

United States

Uncertain Prospects for Healthcare Reform

Renewed Criticism of Rising Drug Prices

Slowdown in the Growth Rate of National Healthcare Expenditures

France

New Cost-Containment Measures for 2010

New Targets for Generics Dispensing

Germany

Healthcare Priorities of New Government

Outlook for Health Economic Evaluation

Questions Regarding the Future of Rebate Contracts

Prospective Reductions to Many Reference Prices

Italy

Variable Access to Innovative Medicines Across Italy

Spain

Changes to the Reference Pricing System

United Kingdom

Sharp Decline in U.K. Prices Relative to Prices in Other Major Markets

Growing Concern at the Impact of Parallel Exports

Initiatives to Increase the Use of Generics

Japan

Prospective Average Price Cut of 6.4% in April 2010

Introduction of a Premium for the Development of New Drugs and Elimination of Off-Label Drug Use

Outlook and Implications for the Pharmaceutical Industry

Tables

1. Key Features of Healthcare Reform Bills in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives

Figures

1. Prescription Drug Expenditures and Spending Growth Rate in the United States in Select Years, 2000-2008

2. Targeted Generics Dispensing Rates for Key Compounds in France, 2010

3. Average Branded Drug Prices in Major Markets as a Percentage of U.K. Prices, 2004-2008

4. Average Biennial Price Revisions in Japan, 1994-2008

5. Price Adjustment Range in Japan, 1994-2008

Abstract

• In the United States, an unexpected electoral setback for the Democrats threatens to derail the passage of legislation that would bring about the most radical transformation of the U.S. healthcare system since the introduction of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. What are the key similarities and differences between the bills drafted by the Senate and the House of Representatives? What contributions are likely to be expected from the pharmaceutical industry, and why have drug manufacturers been criticized for their recent pricing policies? What are the potential repercussions of the election result?
• European governments continue to focus on reference pricing and boosting the use of generics to contain pharmaceutical expenditures. What are the prospective changes for the German and Spanish reference pricing systems? How do the French and U.K. governments intend to stimulate greater use of generics?
• The German pharmaceutical market faces the prospect of significant changes in the near future. What are the healthcare priorities of the new German government? What is the outlook for health technology assessment in Germany? What question has been raised with regard to rebate contracts?
• The United Kingdom has gone from being one of the highest-priced pharmaceutical markets in Europe to the lowest-priced market in Europe. What are the reasons for this dramatic change? How has the decline of U.K. prices relative to prices in other European markets infl uenced parallel trade patterns and affected pharmaceutical supply in the United Kingdom?
• Japan is scheduled to conduct its next biennial price revision in April 2010. What is the likely level of average price cuts? How will price cuts for long-listed drugs, a new price premium for the development of new drugs, and elimination of off-label drug use impact the Japanese pharmaceutical industry?

• Issues affecting the pharmaceutical industry in the United States: healthcare reform; price increases; healthcare expenditure trends.
• Issues affecting the pharmaceutical industry in Europe: changes in German healthcare policy; new cost-containment strategy in France; modifications to the German and Spanish reference pricing systems; initiatives to stimulate greater use of generics in France and the United Kingdom; outlook for health economic evaluation in Germany.
• Issues affecting the pharmaceutical industry in Japan: results of the most recent review of Japanese prices in preparation for the next biennial price revision in April 2010; prospects for price maintenance system proposed by the pharmaceutical industry.

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