Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although only 7-8% of US healthcare expenditures are spent on prescription drug products, the pharmaceutical industry's profitability and high cost of prescriptions to consumers make prescription drugs a visible target for reform. When compared with other products, it appears as if unfair pricing tactics are used. The pharmaceutical industry cites costs of research and development and a short patent life as justifiable grounds for high prices, but the reason why US drug prices appear to be so high has yet to be answered. OBJECTIVE: To examine identified components of the pharmaceutical industry that allow US prescription drugs to appear to be highly priced and to review the apparent factors that affect pricing policies for pharmaceuticals. DATA SOURCES: The literature was reviewed to identify current research regarding the pharmaceutical market. Sources included MEDLINE, Econolit, Business Periodical Index, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and the F-D-C Pink Sheet. SUMMARY: Key factors account for the fact that the US prescription drug prices are higher and that price discrimination occurs in the pharmaceutical industry within the US and among other countries. These factors include the unique market structure of the pharmaceutical industry, asymmetry of information, research and development costs, numerous channels of distribution and the differences among them, and government laws and regulations of prescription drugs. Pricing policies of pharmaceutical companies are based on manufacturing, promotion, and distribution costs; drug characteristics; and economic goals of the parent company.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1489-1494 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Annals of Pharmacotherapy |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| State | Published - 1996 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Pharmacology (medical)
- Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics(all)
Cite this
Do market components account for higher US prescription prices? / Monaghan, Maura J.; Monaghan, Michael S.
In: Annals of Pharmacotherapy, Vol. 30, No. 12, 1996, p. 1489-1494.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Do market components account for higher US prescription prices?
AU - Monaghan, Maura J.
AU - Monaghan, Michael S.
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - BACKGROUND: Although only 7-8% of US healthcare expenditures are spent on prescription drug products, the pharmaceutical industry's profitability and high cost of prescriptions to consumers make prescription drugs a visible target for reform. When compared with other products, it appears as if unfair pricing tactics are used. The pharmaceutical industry cites costs of research and development and a short patent life as justifiable grounds for high prices, but the reason why US drug prices appear to be so high has yet to be answered. OBJECTIVE: To examine identified components of the pharmaceutical industry that allow US prescription drugs to appear to be highly priced and to review the apparent factors that affect pricing policies for pharmaceuticals. DATA SOURCES: The literature was reviewed to identify current research regarding the pharmaceutical market. Sources included MEDLINE, Econolit, Business Periodical Index, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and the F-D-C Pink Sheet. SUMMARY: Key factors account for the fact that the US prescription drug prices are higher and that price discrimination occurs in the pharmaceutical industry within the US and among other countries. These factors include the unique market structure of the pharmaceutical industry, asymmetry of information, research and development costs, numerous channels of distribution and the differences among them, and government laws and regulations of prescription drugs. Pricing policies of pharmaceutical companies are based on manufacturing, promotion, and distribution costs; drug characteristics; and economic goals of the parent company.
AB - BACKGROUND: Although only 7-8% of US healthcare expenditures are spent on prescription drug products, the pharmaceutical industry's profitability and high cost of prescriptions to consumers make prescription drugs a visible target for reform. When compared with other products, it appears as if unfair pricing tactics are used. The pharmaceutical industry cites costs of research and development and a short patent life as justifiable grounds for high prices, but the reason why US drug prices appear to be so high has yet to be answered. OBJECTIVE: To examine identified components of the pharmaceutical industry that allow US prescription drugs to appear to be highly priced and to review the apparent factors that affect pricing policies for pharmaceuticals. DATA SOURCES: The literature was reviewed to identify current research regarding the pharmaceutical market. Sources included MEDLINE, Econolit, Business Periodical Index, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and the F-D-C Pink Sheet. SUMMARY: Key factors account for the fact that the US prescription drug prices are higher and that price discrimination occurs in the pharmaceutical industry within the US and among other countries. These factors include the unique market structure of the pharmaceutical industry, asymmetry of information, research and development costs, numerous channels of distribution and the differences among them, and government laws and regulations of prescription drugs. Pricing policies of pharmaceutical companies are based on manufacturing, promotion, and distribution costs; drug characteristics; and economic goals of the parent company.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0030472620&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0030472620&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Comment/debate
C2 - 8968463
AN - SCOPUS:0030472620
VL - 30
SP - 1489
EP - 1494
JO - Annals of Pharmacotherapy
JF - Annals of Pharmacotherapy
SN - 1060-0280
IS - 12
ER -