Use of oncology drugs in Japan compared to France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States: A comparison based on data from 1999 to 2009.

Abstract

e16585 Background: Drugs constitute a key element in the treatment of solid tumors and in haematology. We have analysed the access and uptake of oncology drugs in 8 countries over a 10 year period (1999-2009) based on sales data provided by IMS Health. Methods: In this analysis we study cancer drugs (ATC code L1+ L2A+B+ L4X) sub divided into a “mature” set of cancer drugs available in 1999 or before (approved for use in any of the study countries) and a set of “new” cancer drugs available in 2000 or later. We have also analysed their use in relation to burden of disease (mg use/ mortality case). Detailed data will be presented. Results: We see very different patterns of spending in countries studied. The table below illustrates the situation in 2009, but the pattern of spending is similar during the whole study period. The highest spending per capita is found in France. In Japan the spending on especially “mature” drugs is high. Spending on “new” cancer drug is strikingly low in the UK. These differences in spending may also be related to differences in cancer burden (cancer incidence here given as age standardized incidence; ASR), as well the cancer panorama (differences in case load of lung cancer, gastric cancer etc.). Conclusions: There are major variations in the spending on cancer drugs between countries in the study. Japan has a high spending on cancer drugs in relation to burden of disease, and this spending is especially high on “mature” drugs. The differences seen may reflect several factors, such as differences in approval times, reimbursement decisions, use of generic drugs, budget allocation, exchange rate fluctuations and differences in interpretations of scientific data. Country Per capita spending (USD) “mature drugs” (% of total) Per capita spending (USD) “new drugs” (% of total) Cancer incidence ASR France 41 (59) 29 (41) 430 Germany 28 (61) 18 (39) 377 Italy 26 (63) 15 (37) 427 Japan 45 (78) 13 (22) 287 Spain 32 (58) 23 (42) 321 Sweden 25 (68) 12 (32) 357 United Kingdom 20 (77) 6 (23) 382 United States 39 (61) 25 (39) 447