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 That figure, based on wholesale pricing, is up nearly $370 billion
from estimated 2016 spending. The United States will account for up
to $675 billion of the $1.5 trillion.
When accounting for anticipated discounts and rebates to health
insurers and other payers, 2021 net spending will be closer to $1
trillion, the QuintilesIMS Outlook for Global Medicines through 2021
report found.
Annual spending growth over the next five years is forecast at 4–7
percent, primarily driven by newer medicines for cancer, diabetes
and autoimmune diseases in developed markets. That compares with
spending growth of nearly 9 percent in 2014 and 2015 fueled in part
by surging demand for new hepatitis C cures that has since leveled
off.
"After two years of unexpectedly high levels of growth, we are
returning to a more balanced and sustainable level of expansion that
we think health systems and payers will be able to manage," Murray
Aitken, executive director of the QuintilesIMS Institute which
compiled the data, said in an interview.
QuintilesIMS regularly tracks prescription drug data for the
industry.
Spending in the United States, the largest market with by far the
highest drug prices, is expected to account for more than half of
global growth over the period, at a compound annual rate of 6 to 9
percent, or 4 to 7 percent including discounts and rebates. That is
down from 12 percent spending growth in 2015.
The report projects a slowdown in U.S. branded drug price increases,
possibly a result of rising political pressure. It sees annual
wholesale price increases of 8 to 11 percent and net prices rising 2
to 5 percent.
The report predicts an average of 45 new drug launches each year, a
historically high rate. While many will be very expensive
treatments, the report sees rising costs partially offset by a
higher level of drugs going off patent than in the previous five
years. That includes the anticipated effect of more biosimilars -
cheaper versions of high-priced biotech medicines - entering the
market.
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"We are projecting they will have a total impact over the next five
years in the range of $27 billion to $58 billion in savings in the
U.S. market," Aitken said.
Economic slowdowns in Europe and emerging markets, such as China,
Brazil and Russia, will contribute to an overall drag on spending
growth and slow plans to expand access to more medicines, the report
said.
For example, China is expected to spend between $150 billion and
$180 billion in 2021, but annual spending growth for medicines will
fall to less than 7 percent over the next five years from about 14
percent over the prior five.
The compound annual growth rate of drug spending in Europe is
estimated at just 1 to 4 percent through 2021.
"Economic growth remains relatively weak across Europe, so that
constrains expansion in healthcare and drug budgets," Aitken said.
(Reporting by Bill Berkrot; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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