Understanding the pharmaceutical value chain

Understanding the pharmaceutical value chain requires the identification of each component from manufacturer to end consumer of medicines – and to understand their interaction. In most cases, the manufacturer’s selling price represents only a fraction of the retail price of a drug. More than half of the end user price results from insurance, freight charges (CIF), import tariffs and charges, importer margin, distributor margin, retailer margin and taxes. The article describes the elements of the medicine value chain, outlines factors and costs that contribute to the difference between the net price a pharmaceutical manufacturer receives for a drug and the final amount paid for the drug by the end user. It quantifies the price build-up for specific therapy areas and countries and illustrates the diversity of approaches and costs associated with the value chain through case studies.