ITALIAN GOVERNMENT, DRUG SECTOR NEGOTIATE PRICING

Italian officials and drug manufacturers are currently discussing pharmaceutical pricing. The country's health minister has warned that drugmakers will have to "justify" their prices, rather than merely informing the government.

A first meeting between the government and industry association Farmaindustria reportedly convinced officials that talks should be accelerated, possibly involving imposing "specific rules" in Italy's forthcoming budget law. Nevertheless, health minister Francesco Storace has struck a conciliatory tone, acknowledging the need to recompense drugmakers for heavy research and development costs.

Concern over Italy's drug prices -- which are among the highest in the European Union (EU) -- has been growing in recent months. In May, consumer group Codacons urged public prosecutors to investigate alleged "cartel" practices in pharmaceutical pricing, amid a probe by local competition authorities. The government has already reached an agreement with pharmacies over prices for non-reimbursable drugs and OTC products.