CMA fines firms over £35m for illegal arrangement for NHS drug

[helvella]

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has found against a number of companies including old favourites Advanz/Cinven. The product is prochlorperazine 3mg dissolvable or “buccal” tablets.

Pharmaceuticals: suspected anti-competitive agreements

The CMA is investigating alleged anti-competitive agreements in the pharmaceutical sector under Chapter I CA98 (case reference: 50511-2).

gov.uk/cma-cases/pharmaceut...

Press release

CMA fines firms over £35m for illegal arrangement for NHS drug

The CMA has fined firms over £35 million for an illegal arrangement in the supply of important NHS prescription anti-nausea tablets.

gov.uk/government/news/cma-...

Inevitably, there will be appeals.

This is just to reassure you that thyroid patients are not the only ones having issues with drug pricing.

[Hennerton]

But I wonder if patients were prevented from being prescribed this treatment because of the high cost? That would be interesting to know. Somehow I doubt it.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hennerton]

A good question - I do not know.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Hennerton]

Have a look here:

bnf.nice.org.uk/medicinal-f...

You can see that 3mg buccal tablets have a bizarre range of prices from £11.08 to £50.27. I suspect that many GPs would at the least look at reducing prescription quantities at the higher end - if they are aware.

[hazmatrec]

hiya! I'm on the 3mg buccal and had to jump through hoops to stay on them through a rough prescribing time. i had to make a plea to the ccg that i wouldn't be able to work without them nor care for my child, during lockdown especially. i know this is a million years after the conversation, sorry. oye been rough being on the internet, and I've got some catching up to do!