A comparison of generic and originator brand A comparison of generic and originator brand drug prices between Jordan and the United Kingdomdrug prices between Jordan and the United Kingdom

Faris El-Dahiyat1, Reem Kayyali 1, Ibrahim Alabbadi 2 1 Kingston University-UK, 2 University of

Jordan

IntroductionIntroduction

When a pharmaceutical patent expires, generic companies may enter the market and start selling copies of the original drug. In competitive markets entry of generics, would trigger fierce price competition, hence decreasing the monopoly enjoyed by the original patent holder. The priority of drug pricing policies worldwide is to make drug prices as affordable as possible for the public.ObjectiveObjective The aim of this research was to compare the retail prices of generics and originators’ brands of five drugs; enalapril, lisinopril, omeprazole, lansoprazole and simvastatin representing three different classes between Jordan and the United Kingdom (UK) and to investigate if there is a relation between number of generics & time of launch.MethodologyMethodology

Prices of originators and generics for the 5 drugs at different time periods and number of generics available were obtained from Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, BNF and updated Chemist and Druggist generics list. Prices were converted to Sterling Pounds (£) expressed per unit dose, then data were entered into an excel spreadsheets for comparisons.ResultsResults

● Generic products appeared much earlier in Jordan than in the UK

● Prices of originators at registration were higher in the UK (except omeprazole) while they

were higher in Jordan at time of launch of first generic (except enalapril)

Drug name

originator launch date

first generic launch date

Jordan

UK Jordan

UK

Omeprazole

1993 1989 1993 2003

Lansoprazole

1996 1994 1997 2006

Simvastatin

1991 1989 1997 2004

Enalapril 1987 1985 1989 2000

Lisinopril 1991 1988 1994 2003

● Current originator brands’ prices are higher in Jordan (except simvastatin & enalapril)

● Generic prices are currently much higher in Jordan than in the UK

Drug

Jordan UK%

price chang

e

No. of yrs

% price change

No. of yrs

Omeprazole

+9.0% 15 -19.6% 19

Lansoprazole

-7.2% 12 -67.0% 14

Simvastatin

-64.0%

17 -1.4% 19

Enalapril +2.5% 21 -17.6% 23Lisinopril -

31.4%17 -47.7% 20

Originators

Drug

Jordan UK

% price change

No. of yrs

% price change

No. of yrs

Omeprazole

0.0% 15 -92.4% 5

Lansoprazole

-15% 11 -29.6% 2

Simvastatin

-64.5% 11 -97.8% 4

Enalapril -16.7% 19 -93.4% 8Lisinopril -30% 14 -86.8% 5

Generics

● There is no correlation between number of years originators & generics have been available in Jordan & UK and the change in their prices

Conclusion and recommendationConclusion and recommendation

Current pharmaceutical pricing instructions in Jordan need to be revised in order to add evidence-based pharmacoeconomic evaluations for new originators, and to balance the need for lesser generic prices without negatively impact the local manufacturers.