Publication:

A cost variation analysis of various brands of oral anti-diabetic drugs currently available in Indian pharmaceutical market

Background Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder requiring lifelong treatment. There are a large number of anti-diabetic drugs available in the Indian market.  The cost of drugs plays an important role in patient’s care, warranting the need for all physicians to keep themselves updated with the latest prices and price variation of various brands of anti-diabetic drugs. The objective of this study is to evaluate the cost of oral anti-diabetic drugs of different brands currently available in the Indian market.

Methods Cost of oral anti-diabetic drugs manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies in the same strength and dosage forms was obtained. The percentage price variation and cost ratio for each formulation was calculated.

Results In sulfonylurea group of drugs, maximum price variation was seen in glimepiride 1mg 1366% and minimum was seen in glipizide 2.5 mg 17%. In non-sulfonylurea group of drugs, a maximum variation was seen in metformin 500 mg 809% and a minimum variation was seen in acarbose 100 mg 10%. Among the fixed dose combination therapy, glimepiride 2 mg and metformin 500 mg showed the highest price variation 555% and pioglitazone 7.5 mg and metformin 500 mg showed the least price variation 8%.

Conclusions Our study showed that there is a very high price variation for oral anti-diabetic drugs by different brands. Since diabetes mellitus is a chronic illness, cost of the drug plays an important role in compliance to the treatment regimen. It is necessary to bring awareness regarding this wide variation in prices, such that the drug costs can be reduced and made more affordable to the common man.