Biomedical Research

DOI: 10.4066/biomedicalresearch.29-18-992

Abstract

Introduction: High prevalence rate of CVD and high rate of CVD deaths attributed to high cholesterol leads to increased statins utilization. The aim of this study is to analyse the difference in prices between generic and innovator and utilization of INNs of statins available in Bulgaria and Ukraine.

Materials and Methods: The study is retrospective and observational analysis of changes in prices. On total, 7 INN and 18 dosage forms are included in the study. Utilization of statins has been measured in DDD/1000 inh/d.

Results: The results reveal considerable price differences in the prevailing part of the observed dosage forms between 2013 and 2016 and higher price variations. Two of the lowest and three of the highest prices have not been changed in Bulgaria. For the same period in Ukraine ten lowest and five highest prices have decreased, while one lowest and six highest have increased. Statins utilization is much higher in Bulgaria than that in Ukraine.

Conclusions: Prices of statins tend to decrease in Bulgaria more than in Ukraine. In both countries there is a slight tendency of reduced utilization, whereas the consumption of statins in Bulgaria is much higher than that in Ukraine. The study confirms that medicine utilization depends on prices and the health policy in the countries.

Keywords

Statins, Price, Utilization, DDD/1000 inh/d, Bulgaria, Ukraine

Introduction

Statins are widely used nowadays for treatment of hypercholesterolemia. There is much evidence that statin therapy improves cardiac function, symptoms associated with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, blood lipid level, therapy satisfactions [1,2] and reduces all-cause mortality and morbidity [3]. Five years primary prevention treatment of middle-aged men which is economically effective, leads to cost saving and increases quality adjusted life years [4].

Among both European Union (EU) and non-EU member states, cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence tended to be relatively high in Eastern and Central European countries. Age-standardized prevalence rate of CVD per 100,000 in Bulgaria (BG) decreases from 9,359 in 1990 to 9,068 in 2015. In Ukraine (UA) an increase is found out from 8,708 in 1990 to 8,801 in 2015. The percentage of raised blood cholesterol is 49.9% in Bulgaria and 44.4% in Ukraine, showing from moderate to high rate in Europe (the lowest rate is 26.8 % in Uzbekistan, and the highest one is 69.8% in Iceland) [5].

Utilization of lipid lowering agents varied among countries-in 2003 the highest is in Ireland and Norway, and lowest in Italy. It has increased in all observed countries e.g. by 274% in Ireland and by 56% in France between 2000 and 2003 [6].

Despite the high prevalence of CV morbidity and mortality a little is known about the statins utilization and their prices in BG and UA. The data about statins utilization and prices are necessary from policy point of view to estimate their affordability to the population, and to minimize the risk of underutilization. High prevalence rate of CVD deaths attributed to high cholesterol, the increased prescribing and utilization, and their link to price levels and price variations, has prompted our interest in this study.

Materials and Methods

The study is retrospective, observational analysis of changes in prices. On total, 7 international non-proprietary names (INNs) and 18 dosage forms of statins (Anatomic therapeutic chemical (ATC) code C10AA) are observed during 2013-2016.

Price variations analysis

Retail prices of all authorized statins in Bulgaria were collected from the official registry of the National council of pricing and reimbursement [7] and from market research system “Pharm standard” of the company “Morion” in Ukraine [8].

The lowest and the highest priced statins were compared by calculating the ratio between them, as follows:

Generics to originators price ratio=The lowest generics price/ Price of originator or the highest generics price

All prices are converted in € at the exchange rate of 1 BGN= €0.51 in Bulgaria [9]. In Ukraine 1 € equals 10.92 UAH in 2013, 1 € equals 17.12 UAH in 2014, 1 € equals 24.36 UAH in 2015 and 1 € equals 28.28 UAH in 2016 according to Ministry of Finance in Ukraine [10].

Utilization of statins

The statins utilization was calculated for every year using the World Health Organization (WHO) formula [11]:

DDD/1000 inh/d=((Sales data in mg/ DDD in mg)/(N in habitants × 365)) × 1000

Sales data were provided from Bulgarian Drug Agency (BDA), number of inhabitants is published in National Statistical Institute database [12] in Bulgaria (n=7245677 in 2013, 7202198 in 2014; 7153784 in 2015). In Ukraine number of inhabitants is published from State Statistics Service of Ukraine (n=45553000 in 2013; 45426200 in 2014; 42928900 in 2015) [13].

Results

Price variations analysis in BG and UA

Our study founds a large variation of the statins prices during 2013-2016. As a whole, prices vary more in Ukraine, while they are steadier in Bulgaria (Table 1).

Table 1. Number of observed products and those with price changes between 2013-2016.

The price ratio was calculated for 3 INNs of statins (simvastatin, atorvastatin, and rosuvastatin), as they are available on the market under more than one trademark (Table 2). The medicines with the same trade name were excluded. Generic to originator price ratio in BG for all INNs varies between 0.09-0.77, while in Ukraine it is from 0.06 to 0.74 over the observed period of time (Table 2).

Table 2. Generics to originators ratio during 2013-2016.

The results of applied Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test show statistically significant differences between rosuvastatin prices in Bulgaria (p=0.028) compared in 2013 and 2016. There were no significant differences between prices of the other INNs.

Utilization of statins

Utilization of statins in DDD/1000/inh/d is presented on Table 3.

Table 3. Statins utilization in DDD/1000 inh/day in BG and UA during 2013-2015.

The utilization is much higher in BG than UA-about 3000 times for fluvastatin in 2013 and 25.2 times for simvastatin in 2015 (Figures 1 and 2). The highest utilization was estimated for rosuvastatin in Bulgaria and atorvastatin in Ukraine. Those INNs show notable price changes for this period of time.

Figure 1: Utilization of statins in 2013 and 2015 in Bulgaria.

Figure 2: Utilization of statins in 2013 and 2015 in Ukraine.

Discussion

Development of the pharmaceutical market in Bulgaria has led to an increased number of generics in the last few years. A previous study confirms that a large number of generics were approved, the prices decreased significantly, and simultaneously changed medicines utilization. This process is more evident in the developing groups and new approved INNs [14] where generic and therapeutic competition influence the market environment, they could even realize budget savings [15]. A previous study showed that eight new generic atorvastatin and ten new rosuvastatin were included for reimbursement during 2009-2013, which led to price decrease and utilization growth. This study confirms that the development of generic policy, price stability, and low rate of patient co-payment are required in order to prevent patients’ non-adherence and improve health outcomes.

Similar study in Ukraine estimated an increased number of a statin group by 30.4% from 2012 to 2015. The highest growth of rosuvastatin (129%) was recorded. The prices for domestic statins increased on average by 42.1%. The average prices also increased on the market especially for imported products [16].

One of the reasons for the permanent prices decrease in Bulgaria could be the strict price regulation. The National Council on Pricing and Reimbursement (NCPRMP) [17] approves medicine prices based on the lowest price among the 17 reference countries. The manufacturer price of the generic product should not exceed 70% of the price of the originator.

The register for medicines subject to reimbursement has been created in July 2017 in Ukraine. Only simvastatin (5 trade names) of 90% reimbursement level was included in the register [18].

The generic to originator ratio expresses the price contrast and the results of the introduced generic policy in a country. The difference between the most and least expensive dosage forms, established on a market is probably the result of the manufacturer’s policy and the health economic environment. The countries (e.g. Denmark, Sweden) which have strict generic policies, tend to have a higher difference between originator and generic prices [19].

A higher price difference between generic and originator could affect medicines utilization and resulting in increased morbidity and cardiovascular mortality [16].

The study including nine European countries shows the highest rate of increase of statins utilization in Ireland-from 26.54 to 99.29 DDD/1000 inh/d during 1997-2003 [6]. The utilization of statins in our study is far below those values, especially in Ukraine.

The utilization of statins in CZ has risen from 2 to 96 DDD/ 1000 inh/d between 1997 and 2013 [20], while utilization in Serbia is 0.06 in 2003 and 0.30 DDD/1000 inh/d in 2004 [21]. The study reveals that the utilization of statins in Bulgaria is close to that in CZ, as well as in Ukraine it is similar to that of Serbia.

This is the first comparative study of both price changes and utilization of statins among Bulgaria and Ukraine, the countries of the highest CVD morbidity and mortality in Europe. It tested the relationship between prices and utilization and confirms that the price stability affects medicines utilization, affordability and compliance to therapy.

Conclusion

Prices of statins tend to decrease in Bulgaria more than in Ukraine. In both countries there is a slight tendency of reduced utilization, whereas the consumption of statins in Bulgaria is much higher than that in Ukraine. The study confirms that medicine utilization depends on prices and the health policy in the countries. Some factors such as price variability, differences between the lowest and the highest priced medicines, and the rate of co-payment could affect statins consumption and prescribing habits.

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