Cost analysis of oral hypolipidemic agents available in India

Authors

  • Vihang S. Chawan Department of Pharmacology, Topiwala National Medical College and B. Y. L. Nair Charitable Hospital, Mumbai Central, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Kalpesh V. Gawand Department of Pharmacology, Topiwala National Medical College and B. Y. L. Nair Charitable Hospital, Mumbai Central, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Sagar V. Badwane Department of Pharmacology, Topiwala National Medical College and B. Y. L. Nair Charitable Hospital, Mumbai Central, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Keywords:

Hypolipidemic drugs, Variation in cost, Statins, Percentage variation

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the most prevalent cause of death and disability in developed and developing countries. There is a wide variation in the prices of hypolipidemic drugs marketed in India. Thus, a study was planned to find out variation in cost in the oral hypolipidemic drugs available in India either as a single drug or in combination and to evaluate the difference in cost of various brands of the same oral hypolipidemic drug by calculating percentage variation in cost in Indian rupees.

Methods: Cost of oral hypolipidemic drugs manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies, in the same strength and dosage forms was obtained from “Current Index of Medical Specialties” July-October 2014 and “Indian Drug Review” Vol. XXI, Issue No.4, 2014. The difference in the maximum and minimum price of the same drug manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies and percentage variation in cost per 10 tablets was calculated.

Results: Percentage variation in cost for hypolipidemic drugs marketed in India was found to be atorvastatin (10 mg): 1108.33%, simvastatin (5 mg): 709.09%, rosuvastatin (10 mg): 431.91%, lovastatin (10 mg): 287%, fenofibrate (200 mg): 163.58%. Among the combination therapy, variation in cost was atorvastatin + fenofibrate (10+160 mg): 233.33%, atorvastatin + ezetimibe (20+20 mg): 132.90%, rosuvastatin + fenofibrate (10+145 mg): 105.56%.

Conclusion: There is a wide difference in the cost of different brands of oral hypolipidemic drugs available in India. The clinicians prescribing these drugs should be aware of these variations in cost to reduce the cost of drug therapy.

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Published

2017-01-29

How to Cite

Chawan, V. S., Gawand, K. V., & Badwane, S. V. (2017). Cost analysis of oral hypolipidemic agents available in India. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 3(6), 954–957. Retrieved from https://www.ijbcp.com/index.php/ijbcp/article/view/1167

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Original Research Articles