Both Prevnar and Cerezyme were reviewed as category 2 drugs, drugs that in the opinion of the HDAP, represent a breakthrough or substantial improvement over existing therapies. In each case, the price was considered to be within the Guidelines because it did not exceed the median price for the same drug in the countries used for comparison purposes.

Cerezyme (Prices per 200 unit/vial)

The HIV drugs Sustiva and Ziagen were reviewed as new drugs in category 3, drugs that provide moderate, little or no improvement over existing drugs.

Sustiva (Cost per day)

In these cases, the HDAP concluded that the evidence did not establish that they offer a substantial improvement over the protease inhibitors, although it recognized that current treatment guidelines call for various combination treatments to be used. After extensive review, Board Staff concluded that the prices of these drugs were within the Guidelines because they did not exceed the range of prices of existing drugs identified as therapeutic comparators.

Ziagen (Cost per day)

Since introduction, these drugs have continued to be within the Guidelines because the prices have not increased by more than the CPI and have never exceeded the range of prices in the foreign countries.

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