Since Jan 2021 Naftidrofuryl Caps 100mg 84 has been granted concessions in 25 out of 29 months. This category M vasodilator is used by people with peripheral vascular disease, and can be severe enough to require the amputation of toes or feet.
Over the last 20 years this product’s price has peaked 5 times, with gaps of almost exactly 24 months between each. This suggests that there were supply problems which may have been triggered by the price falling below £4.00 in Oct 2010 and some manufacturers pulling out of the UK market. Since October 2019 the price has been steadily rising, an entirely different pattern from the pre-existing boom and bust cycles, which suggests that the underlying cause has changed substantially.
The most likely explanation is a more fundamental restriction in the supply of the API (active pharmaceutical ingredient), otherwise manufacturers would release more stock into the UK market as the price rose.