{"id":1993,"date":"2017-04-10T21:00:19","date_gmt":"2017-04-10T15:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ravi.rajiniravi.com\/blog\/?p=1993"},"modified":"2017-05-10T17:13:13","modified_gmt":"2017-05-10T11:43:13","slug":"top-pharmaceutical-brands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ravi.rajiniravi.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/top-pharmaceutical-brands\/","title":{"rendered":"Top pharmaceutical brands"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

This is the chart on the top selling drug brands<\/a> that I spotted in a linkedin post and it made me go hunting for the data<\/a>. The reason I went looking for the data was was mainly the interest I have in healthcare. To be specific, I have only heard about 2 brands in the chart above – Humira and Prevenar . I had a very vague idea about the former – Humira –\u00a0 but knew the later -Prevenar – very well. I think anyone with a baby will know the later very well.<\/p>\n

Prevenar is the most expensive among the vaccines (Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) that are recommended for babies in India. That it became the world’s number 1 vaccine within 5 years of its launch, that it holds 62% market share\u00a0 in its segment in India (18% in the overall vaccines market), that it contributes around Rs.70-75 crore\u00a0 every quarter to Pfizer India were all the other facts I knew. And that made me look at the other brands and I wondered how expensive they were. Which is the reason for this post.<\/p>\n

The following are the prices. First the average retail price<\/span> in US$ (from GoodRx), next the maximum retail price in Rs if the brand is available and lastly the cheapest price of an alternative brand with the same\/similar active (from 1mg). Just a note, the dosage and delivery formats might be different – I’ve taken the closest matches of dosage across US and India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nUSA<\/td>\nIndia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Product<\/td>\nActive Ingredient<\/td>\nDosage\/Format<\/td>\nPrice $ (if brand exists)<\/td>\nDosage\/Format<\/td>\nPrice Rs (if brand exists)<\/td>\nPrice Rs (cheaper alternative)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Humira<\/td>\nAdalimumab<\/td>\n40mg x 2 pens<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5,393<\/td>\n40mg x 1 syringe<\/td>\n\u00a0NA<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 25,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Harvoni<\/td>\nLedipasvir and Sofosbuvir<\/td>\n90mg\/400mg x 28 tablets<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 34,065<\/td>\n90mg\/400mg x 28 tablets<\/td>\n\u00a0NA<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 23,810<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Enbrel<\/td>\nEtanercept<\/td>\n50mg x 4 surecicks<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5,157<\/td>\n50mg x 1 vial<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 17,000<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Remicade<\/td>\n\u00a0Infliximab<\/td>\n100mg x 1 vial<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1,207<\/td>\n100mg\/10ml x 1 vial<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 41,039<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 32,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MabThera\/Rituxan<\/td>\nRituximab<\/td>\n100mg<\/td>\n\u00a0Prescription only<\/td>\n100mg\/10ml x 1 vial<\/td>\n\u00a0NA<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revlimid<\/td>\nLenalidomide<\/td>\n10mg x 28 capsules<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 17,116<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\u00a0NA<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 56,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Avastin<\/td>\nBevacizumab<\/td>\n400mg\/16ml<\/td>\n\u00a0Prescription only<\/td>\n400mg\/16ml x 1 vial<\/td>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1,07,065<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Herceptin<\/td>\nTrastuzumab<\/td>\n440ml x 2 vials<\/td>\n\u00a0Prescription only<\/td>\n440mg x 1 vial<\/td>\n\u00a0NA<\/td>\n57,570<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lantus<\/td>\nInsulin Glargine<\/td>\n3ml x 5 solostarpens<\/td>\n437<\/td>\n100IU\/3ml x 1 cartridge<\/td>\n597<\/td>\n450<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Prevnar\/Prevenar 13<\/td>\nPneumococcal 7-Valent Conjugate<\/td>\n0.5ml x 1 syringe<\/td>\n219<\/td>\n1ml x 1 vial<\/td>\n3,801<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Xarelto<\/td>\nRivaroxaban<\/td>\n20mg x 30 tablets<\/td>\n470<\/td>\n20mg x 28 tablets<\/td>\n4,060<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eylea<\/td>\nAflibercept<\/td>\n2mg\/0.05ml x 1 vial<\/td>\n\u00a0Prescription only<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lyrica<\/td>\nPregabalin<\/td>\n75mg x 60 captsules<\/td>\n476<\/td>\n75mg x 14 capsules<\/td>\n842<\/td>\n\u00a093 (10 capsules)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Neulasta<\/td>\nPegfilgrastim<\/td>\n6mg\/0.6ml x 1 syringe<\/td>\n6,828<\/td>\n6mg x 1 vial<\/td>\n\u00a0NA<\/td>\n8,125<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seretide\/Advair<\/td>\nSalmeterol<\/td>\n250mcg\/50mcg x 1 inhailer<\/td>\n446<\/td>\n50mcg x 30 rotacap<\/td>\n\u00a0NA<\/td>\n83<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Copaxone<\/td>\nGlatiramer<\/td>\n20mg\/ml x 30 syringes<\/td>\n2,087<\/td>\n20mg x 1 vial<\/td>\n\u00a0NA<\/td>\n340<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sovaldi<\/td>\nSofosbuvir<\/td>\n400mg x 28 tablets<\/td>\n28,653<\/td>\n400mg x 28 tablets<\/td>\n18,207<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tecfidera<\/td>\nDimethyl Fumarate<\/td>\n240mg x 60 capsules<\/td>\n6,986<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Januvia<\/td>\nSitagliptin<\/td>\n100mg x 30 tablets<\/td>\n470<\/td>\n100mg x 7 tablets<\/td>\n315<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Opdivo<\/td>\nNivolumab<\/td>\n100mg\/10ml x 12 vials<\/td>\n29,052<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

As you can see, most of these drugs are fairly expensive (as an aside see the list of the most expensive drugs in US<\/a>) and out of reach of the average Indian. Why and how these are so expensive is another story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is the chart on the top selling drug brands that I spotted in a linkedin post and it made me go hunting for the data. The reason I went looking for the data was was mainly the interest I have in healthcare. To be specific, I have only heard about 2 brands in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3979,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"book_review_cover_url":"","book_review_title":"","book_review_series":"","book_review_author":"","book_review_genre":"","book_review_isbn":"","book_review_publisher":"","book_review_release_date":"","book_review_format":"","book_review_pages":"","book_review_source":"","book_review_rating":"","book_review_summary":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1993","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trends"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/ravi.rajiniravi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/photo-1547139559-c89c59d117611.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ravi.rajiniravi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ravi.rajiniravi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ravi.rajiniravi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ravi.rajiniravi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ravi.rajiniravi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1993"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ravi.rajiniravi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1999,"href":"https:\/\/ravi.rajiniravi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1993\/revisions\/1999"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ravi.rajiniravi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3979"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ravi.rajiniravi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ravi.rajiniravi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ravi.rajiniravi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}