Cost variation analysis of agents used to treat hyper pigmentation available in the Indian market

Neel S. Pandit; Kiran Bhave; Prasad Pandit; Radhika Mittal

doi:10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20263771

Authors

Neel S. Pandit Department of Pharmacology, Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Medical College and Dr. R. N. Cooper Municipal General Hospital, Juhu, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Kiran Bhave Department of Pharmacology, Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Medical College and Dr. R. N. Cooper Municipal General Hospital, Juhu, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Prasad Pandit Department of Pharmacology, Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Medical College and Dr. R. N. Cooper Municipal General Hospital, Juhu, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Radhika Mittal Department of Pharmacology, Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Medical College and Dr. R. N. Cooper Municipal General Hospital, Juhu, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20263771

Keywords:

Pigmentation, Cost ratio, Hydroquinone, Topical steroids, Melasma, Pharmacoeconomic

Abstract

Background: Hyperpigmentation is a condition in which patches of skin become darker in colour; usually treated by various topical, oral and injectable agents. Very few studies have been done to analyse their cost variation, despite a number of agents in various dosage forms being freely available in India. Thus, this study was designed to their compare cost ratio and percentage cost variation.

Methods: The maximum and minimum price of each brand of the agents used to treat hyperpigmentation, in INR per unit, was noted by using ‘CIMS’ 2023-24 issue, Indian Drug Review Triple I Compendium Issue 6 (2024)) and NPPA’s ‘Pharma Sahi Daam’ website. The cost ratio and percentage cost variation for individual drug brands was calculated and compared.

Results: A total of 520 brands (207 single and 313 combination-agent) were analysed, comprising a total of 109 formulations. Across all dosage forms, the percentage cost variation and cost ratio were maximum for injection glutathione 500mg and minimum for tranexamic acid 3% gel. For topical single-agent formulations, the highest cost ratio of 8.54 and variation of 753.93% were observed for hydroquinone 2% cream (7 brands). Among combination agents with known concentrations, hydroquinone + mometasone + tretinoin 2/0.1/0.025% cream (48 brands), showed the highest cost ratio and variation of 14.06 and 1305.52% respectively.

Conclusions: Out of total 109 formulations, 48 had cost variation of more than 100%. The prescribing physicians should be aware of this disparity in cost of the agents to reduce the economic burden of treatment.

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