Cancer Drugs: An International Comparison of Postlicensing Price Inflation

Abstract

Cancer drug prices are rising substantially, both at their initial marketing price and, in the United States, at postlicensing prices. In the United Kingdom, the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme, an agreement between the government and the pharmaceutical industry, controls health care costs while allowing a return on investment and funds for research. The increasing costs of cancer drugs are approaching the limits of sustainability, and a similar government-industry agreement may allow stability for both health care provision and the pharmaceutical industry in the United States.

Enhancing global access to cancer medicines

“…An analysis of the top 10 selling cancer medicines in the United States and the United Kingdom found that US launch prices were 42% higher than in the United Kingdom . By 2015, their average annual price inflation was 8.8% in the United States but was restricted by price regulations to 0.33% in the United Kingdom.…”

“…24 An analysis of the top 10 selling cancer medicines in the United States and the United Kingdom found that US launch prices were 42% higher than in the United Kingdom. 25 By 2015, their average annual price inflation was 8.8% in the United States but was restricted by price regulations to 0.33% in the United Kingdom. During 2005 through 2017 (mean, 8-year follow-up) in the United States, the mean cumulative cost increase (adjusted for general inflation) for 24 injectable cancer drugs was 19.1% (95% CI, 11%-27.2%).…”

The “American (cancer) patients first” plan to reduce drug prices—A critical assessment

“…That annual price increases of more than 5%‐10% (adjusted for inflation) be justified by additional research discoveries or benefits after the drug launch is already standard practice in other countries, but not in the U.S …”

Cancer research in the United States: A critical review of current status and proposal for alternative models

“…The devolution of research responsibilities to contract research organizations (CROs) has increased bureaucracy without clearly improving patient safety or the quality of trial conduct and clinical research. There also is growing concern regarding the exorbitant prices of new cancer drugs, as well as the unrelenting annual price increases of 10% to 20% among older agents, even in cases in which the drug is off‐patent . This results in a diminishing percentage of patients able to access affordable therapies.…”

“…There also is growing concern regarding the exorbitant prices of new cancer drugs, as well as the unrelenting annual price increases of 10% to 20% among older agents, even in cases in which the drug is off-patent. [37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53] This results in a diminishing percentage of patients able to access affordable therapies.…”