US Psychiatric Drug "Price-Gouging:" Report

The US prices of eight commonly-used antidepressants and schizophreniadrugs are, on average, double the rates charged in European countries, says a study conducted by the US consumer advocacy group Public Citizen into the products' prices in 17 countries.

The prices of all eight drugs were higher in the USA than anywhere else, it says. In particular: - Novartis' Clozaril (clozapine) costs $51.94 for a 30-day supply in Spain, and $317.03 in the USA. It costs $271.08 in Canada and $294.93 in the UK; - Janssen's Risperdal (risperidone) costs $123.99 for a 30-day supply in France, and $248.86 in the USA; and - Eli Lilly's Prozac (fluoxetine) sells for $25.93 in Spain and $72.16 in the USA.

The report said drug firms do not have to make such extraordinarily high profits, despite the fact that they invest heavily in R&D. US sales of $3.3 billion are estimated for the five antidepressants, while for the three antipsychotics the estimate is $1.1 billion. US companies are making average profits of over 40%, it said.