Over the last 10 years Olanzapine tablets have suffered four shortages along with price spikes and concessions. The most severe of these was in 2017 when prices for the 20mg 28 tablet pack went up as high as £115 on something that normally sells for £2.
High levels of competition drive prices in the market down. This is very effective for saving the taxpayers money, but can push prices to an unprofitable level where the manufacturer has very little chance of being sustainable. When this happens companies cancel contract orders for more stock and take it off their product list when their existing stock runs out. The consequence of this is the depletion of pharmacy and wholesale stock, prices rising in the market, concessions being granted and patients desperately searching for their medicines.
Olanzapine Tablets do seem to be very vulnerable to unprofitability and shortages. Tomorrow Charles Joynson will look at the prices that trigger the shortages in each case.