Publication:

Cost variation analysis of antidyslipidemic drugs

Background Dyslipidemia is the most common cause of premature coronary atherosclerosis manifesting as ischemic heart disease. Hyperlipidemia has a major role in the causation of atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis-induced conditions, such as ischemic cerebrovascular disease, coronary heart disease (CHD) and peripheral vascular disease.

Methods The prices of 07 antidyslipidemic drugs, available in 19 different formulations marketed in 260 brands and 03 fixed dose combinations available in 11 different formulations marketed in 75 brands were analyzed. Costs of different brands of a particular generic antidyslipidemic drug being manufactured by different companies, in the same strength and dosage forms were used to calculate cost ratio and percentage cost variation.

Results In this study, it was found that there exists a wide cost variation among the different brands of same antidyslipidemic drugs in Indian market. Among individual antidyslipidemic drugs, highest cost ratio and percent cost variation was found for atorvastatin 20 mg, followed by atorvastatin 10 mg and atorvastatin 5 mg. Among fixed dose combinations for antidyslipidemic drugs, highest cost ratio and percent cost variation was found for atorvastatin 20 mg+fenofibrate 160 mg, followed by atorvastatin 10 mg+ezetimibe 10 mg and atorvastatin 20 mg+ezetimibe 10 mg. Highest number of brands of antidyslipidemic drugs available in Indian market are for atorvastatin 10 mg followed by atorvastatin 20 mg and rosuvastatin 10 mg. Highest number of brands of fixed dose combinations of antidyslipidemic drugs available in Indian market are for atorvastatin 10 mg+ezetimibe 10 mg and atorvastatin 10 mg+fenofibrate 160 mg.

Conclusions In Indian market, there is very wide price variation of different brands of the same generic antidyslipidemic drug. Treatment of dyslipidemia has long course of treatment. For long term adherence to the treatment, cost of a drug plays an important role for successful drug treatment. Various steps are needed to reduce this wide price variation of different brands of the same generic antidyslipidemic drug.