On average, the retail price of human medications was approximately 5.5 times higher than pet medications. Discounted prices for humans were higher than pet prices for more than 60% of medications. On average, discounted prices were 1.5 times higher for human medications than for pet medications.
"A 10-day supply of the same medication costs $2 for a pet dog, $10 for a person with a discount coupon, and $100 for a person without a coupon," said Arjun Gupta, MBBS, assistant professor at the U of M Medical School and oncologist with M Health Fairview. He is also a member of the Masonic Cancer Center. "With many humans and pets uninsured or underinsured, it is important that cash prices for medications are affordable and that pricing is not exploitative."
Human prices were also higher than pet prices for drugs such as antibiotics. Researchers warn this may promote humans sourcing antibiotics for their own use from pet sources, especially since human antibiotic use is more regulated.
The reasons behind the dramatic price differences remain unclear. The research team says one possibility may be drug manufacturers engaging in price discrimination by charging consumers different prices in different markets for the same product. Additionally, price differences could reflect variations in medication effectiveness, willingness to pay, and manufacturing, storage, and regulatory standards.
Further research is suggested to explore the causes of price differences.
Haque W, Chencheri S, Virnig BA, et al.
Price Comparison of Human and Veterinary Formulations of Common Medications.
JAMA Intern Med. Published online September 12, 2022. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.3938