Before December 2022 when generics were launched, all prescriptions, branded and generic would have been dispensed as MSD’s Januvia Tabs 100mg 28. This explains why the generic and branded lines on the graph follow the same trend. The green PI average price line does follow the other two, but prices do seem to have been slightly higher over the seven years leading up to loss of exclusivity. Pharmacists often assume that parallel imports are cheaper than UK packs, which is not always the case.
Between December 2022 and April 2023 generic prices remained relatively high, probably due to delays launching the generics. But after April 2023 prices began to fall rapidly, reaching a low of £1.43 in January 2025. This was forced partly by free market competition and partly by the fall of the English drug tariff to £1.67. This pushed generic manufacturers into cancelling contract manufacturing orders and as the reaming stock was dispensed, prices rose. When the drug tariff was further reduced to £1.38 in April 2025, the average market price rose to £1.78. As of the 19th June, the average price has reached £6.27 and concessions have been granted.
It might be safe to say that 10% of the original reimbursement price should be a minimum level for the drug tariff. At its current lowest point of £1.38, it is just 4% of the original pre generic reimbursement price of £33.26.