Sweden’s Reference Pricing Proposal: A Five-Year Doomsday Clock For Innovation?

Sweden may link its existing value-based pricing system with international reference pricing to cut drug expenditure, a move the pharmaceuticals industry says would devastate domestic R&D there.

In a clear sign that it too has been hit by the European austerity bug, the Swedish government has published draft proposals to reform pharmaceutical pricing. While the government says it wants to focus on cost-effectiveness, the domestic pharmaceutical industry fears that the reforms, which could see the introduction of international reference pricing, could spell the end for its preferred policy of value-based pricing.

Sweden may only have a population of 9.2 million and an annual drugs bill of SEK 25 billion ($3.74 billion)...

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