Abstract

A COST ANALYSIS STUDY OF ORAL HYPOGLYCEMIC DRUGS AVAILABLE IN INDIAN MARKET

*Dr. Mithlesh Mehar (Post Graduate Student), Dr. Arun Srivastav (Prof. & HOD, Dept. Of Pharmacology), Dr. Dinesh Jiwane (Post Graduate student) and Dr. Ashok Keer (Post Graduate Student)

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus is one of the major causes of morbidity, mortality and needs lifelong treatment. There is a wide range of variation in the prices of antidiabetic drugs marketed in India and all over the world. Thus a study was planned to find out price variations in the oral hypoglycemic drugs available singly and in combination and to evaluate the difference in cost of same drug. Goals: To analyse the percentage cost variation of different Oral hypoglycemic drugs available in Indian market either singly or in combinations. Methodology: Cost of a particular drug being manufactured by different companies, in the same strength, number and dosage form was compared (CIMS april-july 2016). The difference in the maximum and minimum price of same drug manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies and the percentage variation in price was calculated. Drugs which are manufactured by one company only or being manufactured by different companies but in different strengths were excluded. Results: Among single drug therapy, Glimepiride (2mg) shows maximum percentage variation in price of 626.90%. Among Sulfonylureas- Glimepiride(2mg) shows maximum price variation of 626.90%. In Meglitinides group - Repaglinide(0.5mg), in Biguanides - Metformin(500mg), in Thiazolidinediones - Pioglitazone(15mg) shows maximum price variation of 118.18%, 504.65% and 483.83% respectively and among the α-glucosidase inhibitors (Fig. 6), Acarbose(50mg) shows maximum price variation of 310.26%. Among combination formulation, Glimepiride(1mg) + Metformin(500mg) shows maximum percentage of price variation of 638.33%. Conclusions: The results of our study showed that there is wide variation in prices of drugs manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies. So it is very necessary for regulatory authorities to regulate the wide variation in drug prices to maximize the benefits of the treatment by making the new and updated pricing and prescribing policies.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, price variation, brands, treatment.