The drugmaker slashed the price of its blood pressure medication by up to one third in the UK, but denies the move was related to a government report on drug pricing, PharmaFocus reports.

The blockbuster hypertension treatment has been on the market for more than 10 years and is one of the most widely prescribed angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) in the UK. Coincidentally, ARBs were among a number of drug classes identified in the Office of Fair Trading’s report on pharmaceutical pricing earlier this year as being priced significantly out of line with patient benefits.

Merck announced the price cut shortly after the government responded to the OFT report - saying it would overhaul the current drug pricing system - but the drugmaker insists the timing was purely coincidental. A Merck spokeswoman was adamant the two events were not related and told Pharmafocus the price cut had been planned for months and taken with patients in mind.

“Even now, the outcome of the whole debate around the OFT report and what’s going to happen is incredibly uncertain and I think it’s unlikely anybody is doing anything now on the back of the OFT report,” she says.

She added that Merck was responding to the drug-pricing debate at a policy rather than a pricing level and, in addition to working closely with the pharma industry trade group, Merck plans to meet with the government to make its views known. A company statement said the price reduction for Cozaar would offer patients even better value and enable more to benefit from its blood pressure lowering and cardioprotective benefits.

The 50 mg strength pack will now cost $24, down from $36, and the 100 mg strength pack will cost about $32, down from roughly $48, for 28-tablet packs. Last year, GP’s in England spent approximately $186 million on prescriptions in the community for Cozaar. Worldwide, the drug is Merck’s second-biggest selling product, with sales of over $3 billion last year.

Hat tip to PharmaGossip