Swiss pharma calls for price row moratorium

Interpharma, the Swiss association of research-based pharmaceutical companies, has called for a period of peace in the battle over drug  price levels.

Thomas Cueni, the association's executive director, has told the health  fund organization Santesuisse that the drug industry is ready to take on  board the need to achieve substantial savings in the sector, provided  the debates over fixed drug-price levels and other related campaigns  are given a rest. His appeal has met with a frosty response from  Santesuisse.

A spokesman for the organization, Felix Schneuwly, said that such a  position did not make sense. The funds were talking about potential  savings of 500.0 million Swiss francs ($461.2 million) in the drug  sector and, while they did not want to damage the pharmacetuical sector,  the industry would get used to the idea of economies.