In 2010 the total sales of medicinal products with marketing authorisation totalled 12.3 billion NOK (incl. 0.5 billion for veterinary medicines). This is a 1.1% reduction relative to 2009. The estimated retail costs (AUP) correspond to almost 19 billion NOK. The cost reduction in 2010 was mainly caused by the particularly high sales in 2009 in connection with the flu pandemic (i.e. sales of Pandemrix flu vaccine and Tamiflu® and Relenza®). See also table 7.
Sales of immunomodulationg agents (ATC group L) has increased rapidly in the latest years, and in 2010 the costs increased by 4% (table 7).
The calculation of sales in pharmacy retail price is based on the invoiced pharmacy purchase price added the pharmacy margin, fees and VAT (i.e. using the Norwegian Medicines Agency price formula in calculation of the approved maximum retail price). The estimated costs presented in this book may therefore deviate from real costs especially in groups where special purchase agreements exist e.g. for hospitals or pharmacies where the purchase prices are lower than the approved maximum purchase prices. In these cases, the real pharmacy retail costs may be higher than the estimated pharmacy retail costs (AUP) presented in this book. For prescription medicines, the real costs can be retrieved from the NorPD (www.norpd.no).
In order to reduce reimbursement costs, changes in price regulations have been introduced in Norway. The �index price� system was intorudced in 2003 and this was replaced by the graded price model in 2005. The graded price model is a stepwise price reduction when generic alternatives are marketed. In addition �preferred drugs� have been introduced in some drug groups in order to reduce costs. Preferred drugs have been implemented in several group i.e. drugs for treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux, statins (lipid modifying agents), antihypertensives, agents for treatment of migraine (triptans) and antihistamines . All these regulations have limited the cost increase in in the period 2006-2010 (figure 1). The cost has been decreased in some ATC groups in 2010 (table 7)
The sales volume measured in number of DDDs increased by 0.9% in 2010. Sale in DDDs has been relatively constant the latest 5 year period (see figure 1, p. 18).
Around 40 new chemical entities (NCE) were marketed in Norway in 2010 (calculated as new ATC 5th levels, i.e. new active ingredients or new fixed combinations). The annual number of NCE has been relatively stable in the latest 5 years.
Specific comments to some ATC groups are included in the introduction to the respective main ATC groups.