Therapeutic innovation and drug spending growth in France: the impact of biologics. The case of Centre-Val de Loire Region from 2008 to 2013

Abstract

Biologics account for an ever-growing part of therapeutic innovation(s). Because of their high prices, the latest generations of biologics are registered on the French expensive drugs list to
ensure a fair access to innovation. The purpose of this article is to study the impact of biologics
on the evolution of spendings on expensive drugs in France, particularly in the Centre-Val de Loire region between 2008 and 2013. The use of statistical indices enables us to calculate the price effect, the quantity effect and the structure effect (separately). Over that period, the overall spendings growth has been controlled because the spendings on chemical drugs and antianemic preparations (biologics) have fallen. On the contrary, the biologics spendings in oncology have increased continuously, because of the rise of the number of consumed units and the increasing
orientation of the medical regulation towards the most expensive drugs. This trend is expected to
continue, which leaves the question of the public regulatory mechanisms to ensure the financial
sustainability of healthcare system yet-to-be answered.