ROCHE VERSED WHOLESALER PRICE INCREASED 9.5%

Executive Summary

ROCHE VERSED WHOLESALER PRICE INCREASED 9.5% on July 1 for the most popular dosage, the 5 mg/ml 1 ml vial. A Roche Labs' notice sent to wholesalers July 1 cites higher prices for seven of the eight Versed (midazolam) dosage forms. The increases ranged from 9.5% to 19.5%. The last time Roche Labs raised Versed prices was eight months ago, in October 1990. The highest increase in Versed's average wholesale price was for a box of 10 Versed 5 mg/ml 10 ml multidose vials: $ 671.69 as of July 1. The prices for four other Versed dosages rose 14.9%, with the new prices ranging from $ 143.90 for 2 ml unit dose vials of 5 mg/ml to $ 346.70 for 5 ml multidose vials (both in boxes of 10). Of the 45 drugs included on Roche's price list, only three were not subject to price increases -- Roche's biggest seller, the hospital antibiotic Rocephin (ceftriaxone sodium); and the anti- cancer drugs Roferon-A (interferon alfa-2a); and fluorouracil. Other major Roche drugs with higher prices as of July 1 are Accutane, Bactrim and Bumex, which now cost wholesalers an additional 9.5%. The AWP for the 15 dosage forms of Valium is up 6%, as is the price for the non-barbiturate sedative Dalmane. Valium prices now range from $ 15.78 per 5 mg/ml 10 ml vial to $ 432.25 for 500 10 mg tablets. The top Dalmane price is $ 258.50 for 500 30 mg tablets.