Pfizer raises US prices for more than 100 drugs

London

PFIZER Inc, which plans a US$160 billion merger with Ireland-based Allergan Plc to slash its US tax bill, on Jan 1 raised US prices for more than 100 of its drugs, some by as much as 20 per cent, according to statistics compiled by global information services company Wolters Kluwer.

Pfizer confirmed a 9.4 per cent increase for heavily advertised pain drug Lyrica, which generated US$2.3 billion in 2014 US sales; a 12.9 per cent increase for erectile dysfunction drug Viagra, which had 2014 US sales of US$1.1 billion; and a 5 per cent increase for Ibrance, a novel breast cancer drug launched last year at a list price of US$9,850 per month, or US$118,200 per year.