British drug makers could face a 10 percent price cut under a new scheme designed to control the cost of branded medicines to the state-run National Health Service (NHS), according to the industry newsletter Scrip. A 10 percent price cut over 5 years or a 6 percent reduction over 2 years were the two alternatives put forward by the UK government for the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS), Scrip said.The rolling five-year scheme, which is due for renewal on October 1, 2004, is currently being renegotiated by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and the Department of Health.Talks started in January, but neither side is commenting publicly on progress.
