After several consecutive months that have seen our Biggest Risers tables filled with treble-digit percentage average price rises, the UK generics market seems to have calmed slightly in September 2024, according to the latest figures from WaveData.
Based on trade prices to UK independent pharmacists, the market researcher reported that the steepest average increases in September belonged to telmisartan 80mg tablets, citalopram 20mg tablets and oxycodone 15mg prolonged-release tablets, with these the only products to have seen their average price more than double in September’s Biggest Risers ranking.
The higher strength of telmisartan “just pipped citalopram to the top spot of our Biggest Risers table this month,” WaveData observed.“We collected 22 pieces of comparable data between August and September, with 16 of them being price increases and 13 of those being triple-digit rises, the largest of which was £1.79 ($2.33) to £14.99.”
Moreover, WaveData added, “early indications show there is no sign of these prices dropping this month with just one wholesaler advertising stock at £1.92 (October’s reimbursement is £2.61), all others currently pitched between £14.00 and £17.00.”
Meanwhile, for citalopram tablets “all three strengths of this antidepressant experienced price rises last month with the mid and lower strengths coming in at positions two and seven respectively in our table,” the market researcher pointed out. The highest 40mg strength fell just short at number 13 with an average price rise of 46%.
And in position five in our Biggest Risers table, the 60-count 2.5mg tablet presentation may have been the only one to feature among the top eight products, but WaveData revealed that “the other three – 2.5mg x 20, 5mg x 28 and 2.5mg 10 – took positions 9, 10 and 15 respectively with average price rises of 71%, 54% and 44%.”
At the other end of the spectrum, our Biggest Fallers table reflected perindopril erbumine tablets experiencing the steepest drop in September, with an average price that almost halved.
“The lowest and mid-strength of this hypertension medication both feature in our Biggest Fallers table this month,” WaveData underlined, “with the 2mg strength taking the top spot.Of the 33 pieces of comparable data we collected between August and September 27 were price drops with the largest being £7.21 to £1.90.”
Turning to our Recent Launches, apixaban 5mg tablets again reflected significant increases in the average price and especially the cheapest available price in September, after featuring heavily in August (see related items).
“Our standout product last month prices showed no signs of subsiding in September where the minimum and average prices continued to rise,” WaveData commented. “However, having checked our current October data on the 8th, it would appear that prices are starting to wane. For example, the wholesaler responsible for September’s highest price, £41.90, is currently advertising stock at £6.25. So there’s every possibility that next month’s data will tell a very different story.”
Also of note among our Recent Launches were cinacalect 30mg tablets. “The wholesaler responsible for September’s minimum price of £4.09 had also supplied August’s minimum of £5.79,” WaveData revealed.“However, last month’s price reduction was short-lived, as October’s price has risen to £6.13. But in spite of this, as of the 8thOctober it is still the cheapest offer in the market.”
And ezetimibe 10mg tablets saw prices drop in September after climbing in August. “As predicted in last month’s article, this cholesterol-lowering medication did indeed experience falls in both the minimum and average price,” WaveData highlighted.“Having been granted a reimbursement price of over £8.00 between July and September, this has been lowered to £6.40 this month. However, having checked our current data on the 8ththere are plenty of wholesalers offering stock well below that.”
Finally, our table of Fast Movers – reflecting the molecules with the highest number of offers in the marketplace – was topped by omeprazole in September, followed by atorvastatin and sertraline.
