BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

G-BA assesses DPP-4 inhibitors

October 2, 2013 1:20 AM UTC

Germany's Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) issued final benefit assessments for a group of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors ( DPP-4) inhibitors to treat Type II diabetes that were launched before drug pricing law AMNOG came into effect. The final assessments were more favorable than preliminary assessments issued by Germany's Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare (IQWiG), which had rejected all but one of the drugs. The DPP-4 inhibitors are the first group of drugs to be assessed that were launched prior to AMNOG, which took effect in January 2011 (see BioCentury Extra, July 1).

G-BA said that Onglyza saxagliptin from AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN; NYSE:AZN) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:BMY) and two products from Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) -- Januvia sitagliptin and Janumet sitagliptin/metformin -- had "marginal" additional benefit. The companies will now negotiate prices for the products with Germany's Statutory Health Insurance Funds Association (GKV-Spitzenverband). ...