Drug companies share their views
THE companies’ responses to the Competition Commission’s cancer drug price probe were as follows:
On its website, Aspen said it had not increased pricing of its products outside of the regulatory framework and had “clearly demonstrated its commitment to providing quality medicines affordably over many years”.
“The supply of the oncology products in question was no exception,” the company said.
Aspen said it had not yet engaged with the commission, but welcomed the opportunity to meet and clarify certain things, including that:
According to Aspen, the products were all postpatent “and have been for some time now”.
There were no obvious barriers precluding generic entry for the products. “Invariably in situations like these, the lack of generic entry is attributable to either the sub-economical pricing of the branded products and/or an unattractive market size,” Aspen said.
Despite the lack of generic competition on the products, the company said it had never increased the prices for them in South Africa beyond the allowable single-exitprice increases. “Aspen hopes to demonstrate, through its active engagement with the commission and other affected stakeholders, its ongoing commitment to supplying the South African market with quality affordable medicines,” it said.
“While Aspen fully acknowledges the vital nature of the four oncology products listed in the commission’s announcement, these have a collective turnover of about R3 million in the South African private market”.
Roche’s Aadila Fakier, from its public policy and communications department, said the company had not received a formal notification by the Competition Commission in South Africa. “In case we receive a formal notification, we will be co-operating with the authorities, and provide all required information,” she said.
Pfizer’s director of public affairs and communications, Johnny Moloto, said: “Pfizer denies that it supplies the lung cancer product at the alleged price of R152 000.
“We await the opportunity to be contacted by the commission to clarify the pricing for this product.
“We respect the process initiated by the commission, and Pfizer will fully co-operate with the authorities in their investigation.”w