G-BA to assess six groups of drugs

Germany's Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) said it will conduct benefit assessments for six groups of drugs that were launched before drug pricing law AMNOG took effect in January 2011. AMNOG specifies that G-BA should prioritize assessments of drugs launched before the law if the drugs are "significant to the provision of healthcare" or if benefit assessments for competing drugs already have been conducted. G-BA said a drug's significance is determined by product revenues and number of prescriptions, with revenues weighted at 80% and number of prescriptions weighted at 20%.

The first group is a single drug -- chronic pain compound Nucynta tapentadol from Gruenenthal Group (Aachen, German). The second group comprises osteoporosis drugs Prolia denosumab from Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN), Protelos strontium ranelate from Servier (Neuilly-sur-Seine, France), Preotact recombinant human parathyroid hormone 1-84 (PTH) from NPS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:NPSP) and Forsteo teriparatide from Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY). Dossiers for both groups are due Oct. 15. ...