OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this study are threefold: First: to assess trends in prices of anticancer drugs between France and its external reference countries ERC (ITALY, SPAIN, UNITED KINGDOM AND GERMANY). Secondly to examine the price differences across anticancer drugs among selected countries .and Third to evaluate price disparities according to the level of ASMR obtained in FRANCE.

This study also analyses the impact of the target population effect.

METHODS:

We started by collecting anticancer drugs authorized by EMA between January 2014 and December 2019 covering a total of 32 drugs. Then, we selected the countries according the ERC considered by FRANCE. From France, we identified 23 drugs on 32 for which prices were available, all prices were in Euro. The relative difference in manufacturer price between FRANCE and other countries were calculated. descriptive statistics were performed.

RESULTS:

From the 23 drugs prices observed (all ASMR levels combined): price average in France is lower than the reference countries. The largest disparity observed is Spain with 31%. Followed by Italy and the United Kingdom (respectively 24% and 8%). Only Germany appears as a country with the same price level as France.

For drugs with ASMR V and ASMR IV: the highest difference is with Spain: 43 %. The smallest difference is with the United Kingdom: 12 % followed by Germany. No differential price was observed for ASMR V. For ASMR III, France obtain a highest price than Germany, however French prices are lowest than the other countries.

CONCLUSION:

This study demonstrates that the level of pricing disparities between FRANCE and its reference countries, in most cases, may reflect the level of ASMR. But caution must be exercised, this study does not take into account the multi-indication effect of these drugs.