Nearly 50% of brand medicine spending goes to the supply chain and others

Nearly 50% of total spending on brand medicines – the sum of all payments made at the pharmacy or paid on a claim to a health care provider – went to the supply chain and other entities in 2018, according to a new analysis from the Berkeley Research Group (BRG). Here are four things from the analysis that you should know

Holly Campbell
Holly CampbellJanuary 9, 2020

Nearly 50% of brand medicine spending goes to the supply chain and others

Nearly 50% of total spending on brand medicines – the sum of all payments made at the pharmacy or paid on a claim to a health care provider – went to the supply chain and other entities in 2018, according to a new analysis from the Berkeley Research Group (BRG). Here are four things from the analysis that you should know:

  1. Hospitals, health insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, the government and others got nearly 50% of what was spent on brand medicines in 2018, up from 33% five years prior. By contrast, innovative biopharmaceutical companies that research, develop and manufacture medicines retained just 54% of total point-of-sale spending on brand medicines.

    Manufacturers are retaining an increasingly smaller share of total spending on brand prescription medicines
  2. The share of total spending on brand medicines that biopharmaceutical companies retain has been steadily declining as rebates and discounts have increased. Between 2015 and 2018, the amount innovative biopharmaceutical companies retained from the sale of brand medicines increased, on average, 2.6% annually, in line with inflation. In this same timeframe, companies brought nearly 200 new innovative treatments and cures to patients.

    Despite growth in total brand medicine spending the amount retained by manufacturers has remained flat
  3. Nearly half of the increase in the total amount spent on brand medicines went to payers between 2015 and 2018. Twenty percent went to hospitals, pharmacies and other health care providers, which is the same amount that went to biopharmaceutical companies that research, develop and manufacture medicines.

    Payers received the largest share of the increase in total brand drug spending between 2015 and 2018
  4. The amount hospitals, pharmacies and other health care providers retained on the sale of brand medicines nearly doubled between 2013 and 2018, increasing from $24.7 billion to $48.6 billion. This trend was primarily driven by unprecedented expansion in the 340B drug pricing program. In fact, the amount hospitals and other 340B entities retained from the sale of brand medicines purchased through the 340B program was 9 times larger in 2018 than in 2013.

    340B profits now account for 63 percent of gross provider and pharmacy margin up from just 14 percent in 2013

View the full analysis here and learn more at LetsTalkAboutCost.org

This website uses cookies and other tracking technologies to optimize performance, preferences, usage, and statistics. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to store on your device the cookies and other tracking technologies that require consent. You can tailor or change your preferences by clicking “Manage My Cookies”. You can check our privacy policy for more information.