...for a patent-expired drug.
It's time we took a less tolerant line with these extortionists.
"Drug company Concordia overcharged the NHS by millions for a key thyroid treatment, the Competition and Markets Authority has provisionally found.
The CMA said that last year the NHS spent £34m on its drug, liothyronine, up from about £600,000 in 2006."
"The amount the NHS paid per pack rose from around £4.46 in 2007 to £258.19 by July 2017, an increase of almost 6,000%."
"The price change occurred in the years after the drug was de-branded in 2007. The CMA said the price rise took place despite "broadly stable" production costs.
Canadian drugs giant Concordia sells drugs to patients in more than 100 countries.
Liothyronine tablets are primarily used to treat hypothyroidism, a condition caused by a deficiency of thyroid hormone affecting at least two in every 100 people and which can lead to depression, tiredness and weight gain.
Until earlier this year, Concordia was the only supplier of the drug.
CMA chief executive, Andrea Coscelli, said: "Pharmaceutical companies which abuse their position and overcharge for drugs are forcing the NHS - and the UK taxpayer - to pay over the odds for important medical treatments. "
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42063274
"Concordia said it did "not believe that competition law has been infringed"."
Well they would say that, wouldn't they?
It's time we took a less tolerant line with these extortionists.
"Drug company Concordia overcharged the NHS by millions for a key thyroid treatment, the Competition and Markets Authority has provisionally found.
The CMA said that last year the NHS spent £34m on its drug, liothyronine, up from about £600,000 in 2006."
"The amount the NHS paid per pack rose from around £4.46 in 2007 to £258.19 by July 2017, an increase of almost 6,000%."
"The price change occurred in the years after the drug was de-branded in 2007. The CMA said the price rise took place despite "broadly stable" production costs.
Canadian drugs giant Concordia sells drugs to patients in more than 100 countries.
Liothyronine tablets are primarily used to treat hypothyroidism, a condition caused by a deficiency of thyroid hormone affecting at least two in every 100 people and which can lead to depression, tiredness and weight gain.
Until earlier this year, Concordia was the only supplier of the drug.
CMA chief executive, Andrea Coscelli, said: "Pharmaceutical companies which abuse their position and overcharge for drugs are forcing the NHS - and the UK taxpayer - to pay over the odds for important medical treatments. "
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42063274
"Concordia said it did "not believe that competition law has been infringed"."
Well they would say that, wouldn't they?
