Esomeprazole and omeprazole are once again fully reimbursable in Liguria on the basis of a precise reference from the Tar. "In the balancing of public and private interests, that of health protection appears to prevail" wrote the judges of Sturla who considered the preliminary investigation carried out by the regional administration in relation to the presumed equivalence with the generic drug to be insufficient.
The Tar was moved by the appeal filed by Astra Zeneca, the pharmaceutical company producing the molecule esomeprazole which had been considered – by the Liguria Region – equivalent to another molecule, lansoprazole, albeit with a different composition. Montaldo's choice was based on the fact that those who habitually take care of a molecule other than lansoprazole would have to pay the difference in the pharmacy (from 5 to 13 euros), filling up the coffers of the Region, or change treatment, according to the prescriptions of the Region and certainly not of the attending physician.
However, Astra Zeneca has declared its willingness to enter into dialogue with the Ligurian regional administration in order to contain pharmaceutical expenditure while protecting the interests of patients, public institutions and industry. by Monica Bottino - from Il Giornale 10-03-07
AstraZeneca appeal against anti-ulcer reference price acceptedThe Regional Administrative Court of the Liguria Region accepted the appeal of the Anglo-Swedish AstraZeneca against the reference price in the class of proton pump inhibitor (anti-ulcer) drugs. "The company - reports a note from the Italian branch - welcomes the sentence, which accepts its request for suspension of the substitutability, with regard to the principle of equivalence, of the molecule esomeprazole with the generic drug". AstraZeneca, continues the press release, "recalling that esomeprazole and omeprazole have returned to being fully reimbursable in Liguria, also underlines that the reasons for the TAR establish a fundamental principle ('In balancing public and private interests, the protection of health appears to prevail'), deeming the investigation carried out by the regional administration regarding the presumed equivalence with the generic drug insufficient". However, the company declares that it is "sensitive to the principles of containing pharmaceutical expenditure that inspired the Liguria Region, and offers its willingness to dialogue with its representatives to find solutions together that protect the interests of the three players involved: citizens, public institutions and industry". From Doctornews 11-03-07
