Solifenacin and ibandronic acid lead the steep increases, with average jumps that saw their UK trade prices to independent pharmacists almost quadruple.

Solifenacin 5mg tablets in 30-count packs demonstrated the steepest increase by an enormous margin, with the presentation’s 296% average price rise pushing the average price up to £5.82 per pack. Even the cheapest offer available in the market in April rose by 69% to £1.15 (see Recent Launches table below).

“This medicine used to treat an overactive bladder has seen price rises since January,” WaveData noted. “However, April’s colossal increases meant 10 wholesalers ended the month priced above April’s [Department of Health and Social Care] concession price of £3.54.”

Similarly, WaveData pointed out, prasugrel 10mg tablets also saw a jump in April after months of gradual rises.

“This stroke and heart attack prevention medication has been steadily increasing in price since the beginning of the year, having seen an 8% increase in January, 28% in February, 30% in March and now 46% in April,” WaveData noted. “Even though the concession price was increased by 20% to £12.97 last month, three companies ended the month priced above.”

Meanwhile, ibandronic acid equaled solifenacin’s average price increase, also rising by 296% to £136.50 for a 28-count pack of 50mg tablets. This was despite the cheapest offer in the market not changing, at £14.64 (see Biggest Risers table below). 

The product was “moving up our biggest risers table to the top spot after coming in at number two last month,” WaveData noted.

Acknowledging that “we saw some mammoth price rises last month for this drug used to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis,” WaveData pointed out that “a concession price of £145.99 was granted on April 29. However, four wholesalers were priced above that, with one advertising stock at £216.52.”

Ranking in second place among our biggest risers was glyceryl trinitrate 500mcg tablets in packs of 100, which saw a 210% average increase to £5.15. “Three companies were responsible for April’s average price rise,” revealed WaveData, “and early indications in May are showing other wholesalers are following suit. However, as yet none are topping April’s top price of £15.59.”

Also featuring in the table above with triple-digit-percentage price rises in April were lercanidipine 20mg tablets, aripiprazole 30mg tablets, nizatidine 300mg tablets and trospium chloride 20mg tablets, all of which more than doubled in price on average.

At the other end of the spectrum, the table below shows steep declines for three different presentations of olanzapine orodispersible tablets, with the 20mg presentation seeing an average fall of 86% to £1.77 for a 28-count pack.

While such steep price declines might appear shocking, WaveData revealed that “the reductions were all down to one wholesaler dropping their prices last month to fall in line with the rest of the market. For example, their March price for the 20mg strength of £79.95 was slashed to £1.48 in April.”

Aripiprazole oral solution suffered an average price drop of more than three-quarters, while risperidone and dicycloverine both saw their average price more than cut in half in April.

Finally, among those molecules with the most offers in the marketplace, atorvastatin led the way in April, followed closely by lansoprazole and sertraline (see Fast Movers table below).