COST ANALYSIS STUDY OF ORAL ANTIPLATELET DRUGS AVAILABLE IN INDIAN MARKET

Dr. Pradnya Deolekar*, Dr. Pramila Yadav and Dr. Sandesh Deolekar

ABSTRACT

Background: Cardiovascular disease is both highly prevalent and exceedingly costly to treat. Several novel antiplatelet agents have been found to be effective in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease. There is a wide variation in the prices of oral antiplatelet drugs marketed in India. Thus, a study was planned to find out the variation in cost in the oral antiplatelet drugs available in India either as a single drug or in combination and to evaluate the difference in cost of various brands of the same antiplatelet drugs by calculating percentage variation in cost. Methods: The cost of different brands of commonly used oral antiplatelet drugs was sorted out by referring latest “Current Index of Medical Specialties” October – December 2016, “Indian Drug Review” (IDR) 2016, Monthly Index of Medical Specialities December 2016.The cost of 10 dosage forms (Tablets / capsules) in INR of each brand, Cost Ratio and Percentage Cost Variation were calculated. Results: The percentage variation in cost for oral antiplatelet drugs marketed in India was found to be - Clopidogrel 75mg (692.75% ), Dipyridamole 100mg (299.59 %), Dipyridamole 25 mg (292.01 % ), Clopidogrel 150mg (263.26%), Aspirin 50mg (137.56%), Aspirin150mg (125.71%),Aspirin75mg(71.05%), Prasugrel10mg (61.29%), Clopidogrel 300mg(57.89%), Ticlopidine 250mg (56%), Prasugrel 5mg (28.57%). The lowest percent cost variation found is ticagrelor 90mg (0%). In combination therapy the highest price variation (508.32%) was found for Aspirin (150mg) + Clopidogrel (75mg) followed by Aspirin (75mg) + Clopidogrel (75mg) (205.88%). Conclusion: Despite the implementation of price control, brand price variations still exist widely for commonly used drugs. Re-assessment of pricing policy and implementation of quality norms is needed.

Keywords: Antiplatelet drugs, Cost ratio, Price variation.