Graham
> Is there not a case for the MCA or someone to say that all doses should be
> equally priced, as drug comps are always telling us how exorbitant prices
> are to reflect 20 yrs research etc.This means that the unit cost per mg. is
> uninmportant anyway.
>
"Market forces" seem to do this to non brand leaders. For instance cerivastatin
(which can demonstrate the same lipid lowering and,I think,macrophage effects
as pravastatin but without the huge endpoint trials) comes in three strengths
with very little price diff between them, compared to simva, prava and atorva
where you do pay by the mg.
There are one or two other drugs priced this way where you have to ensure when
you increase the dose that you change the formulation to keep costs down -
list no doubt available from Risk Pharmaceutical Management Services ;-)
Some of the effects of pravastatin on either macrophages or endothelial
function seem to be rather dose dependent and I think that may be another
reason why the trials have used large doses.
Chris
Chris Burton
GP, Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire
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