The graph shows the average PI price for a group of respiratory products. Each of the branded products shown in the chart is heavily effected by parallel imports as they were the most commonly traded PI respiratory products in May 2026, and in the top 12 of all PI’d products in that month.
The graph shows that despite multiple threats, prices have only declined slowly in the UK. A couple have generic or branded generic competitors.
Three have combined, dual constituent ingredients, which make creating a competitor difficult, meaning that if the constituents lose their exclusivity, the combined product remains complex to make. All of them are devices which gives them additional legal protection and adds to the complexity.
The irregularities you may notice in the graph are:
1. Seretide Evohaler CFC Free 250mcg 1 (120 Doses) had its branded reimbursement list price reduced from £59.48 to £29.32 in 2018.
2. The very low prices for Relvar Ellipta Inhaler 184mcg/22mcg 1 (30 Doses) in May 2017 were due to 3 very low priced offers made by a single wholesaler, conditional on large volume purchase.
3. Low prices for Spiriva Combopack Caps & Inhaler Device 18mcg 30 in August 2024 were due to a single wholesaler lowering prices on 4 price lists.
4. Low prices for Spiriva Combopack Caps & Inhaler Device 18mcg 30 in April and May 2026 were due to 12 wholesalers lowering prices due to the appearance of a generic.
However, in the long term creating a combined device is a very good way to protect against generics, but still leaves the brand vulnerable to parallel imports.