Does Harvoni cost less in U.S. than in EU, Japan?

In reponse to the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics September 2016 report titled “Comparison of Hepatitis C Treatment Costs” and FiercePharma’s follow-up article “Surprise: Gilead's hep C wonder Harvoni costs less in U.S. than in EU, Japan” Links to both articles:
IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics
FiercePharma While IMS justly concludes that net prices are “very similar” between the U.S. and other developed markets, we find FiercePharma’s conclusion that Harvoni costs less in the U.S. than in EU & Japan hasty. IMS bases their report on relatively transparent assumptions: • List prices were compiled from public sources. Net (negotiated) prices were compiled from the public disclosures of market participants (manufacturers, payers or governments) and obtained from published media reports. • Average discounts are 15-20% off list prices, except in the U.S. where discounts of 45-55% have been disclosed for Sovaldi and Harvoni IMS does cite some potential bias: • However specific media reports also reported in U.S. dollars and exchange rates were not disclosed. • Most countries have negotiated specific price levels while others have negotiated prices contingent on levels of utilization. What IMS finds: What we find at RxData: Regarding U.S. pricing we come to similar findings. For EU5 & Japan: • Italy: €18,467/pack = €55,400 = $49,027 / treatment (8/15/15) • France: €547/pill = €45,950= $40,664 / treatment (6/18/15) • Germany: €21,566/pack = €64,700 = $57,257 / treatment (12/15/14) • UK: £11,369/pack = £34,100 = $26,231 / treatment (current) • Japan: ¥54,797/pill = ¥4,603,000 = $45,109 / treatment (6/30/16) Treatment: 12 weeks Notice the differences? Thoughts: • Differences could be attributable to exchange rate differences and price dates, as stated in the IMS report assumptions. • The second point IMS mentions “Most countries have negotiated specific price levels while others have negotiated prices contingent on levels of utilization” is very important and could affect any conclusion other than the sound one given by IMS. • Discussion on pricing is complex and we should not jump to any hasty conclusions. • There are very few stakeholders capable of truly making sense of the pricing debate, which has so many layers. We at RxData strive to bring current, complete and precise global market access data, for stakeholders to come to the answer closest to the truth regarding pricing and reimbursement.