OBJECTIVES: To assess market access and price differences in the five European countries (EU5) France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK for oncology drugs approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

METHODS: By using the EMA database, oncology drugs granted market authorisation between January 2015 and December 2016 were extracted for analyses. Ex-factory prices (official listed prices) were obtained from the official sources of the National Health institutions considered. In Germany, two prices (before benefit assessment /after benefit assessment and price negotiation) were included. Price differences were assessed by comparing country-specific drug prices with those in the UK as lowest prices might be expected in this country. Country specific regulations for oncology drugs were taken into account.

RESULTS: Twenty-six authorised oncology drugs were identified. The overall percentage of oncology drugs commercialized ranged from 14 (54%) in Spain to 24 (92%) in Germany (UK 18 (69%), France 19 (73%), and Italy 19 (73%)). So far nine (34%) are commercially available throughout the EU5. In addition, Germany, Spain and the UK have publicly-available prices for all commercialized drugs, while Italy and France have 89% and 74% of drugs with a price, respectively. This may be because some drugs were introduced under the early access to medicines scheme. Analysis of price differences showed that, compared with the UK, the median (IQR) prices of oncology drugs were 18% (9% to 23%) more expensive in Italy, 14% (9% to 34%) in Spain, 3% (-11% to 12%) in France and, in Germany, ranged from being approximately -6% (-20% to 6%) cheaper for prices after assessment to 24% (13% to 34%) more expensive for prices before assessment.

CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of oncology drugs commercialized in the EU5 varies from 54% to 92%, which means different country-specific access to new treatments. Price differences also exist between countries.