COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GLUCOCORTICOID PRICES IN THE TREATMENT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

179 Volume 5, Issue 10: Special Issue (EJAR) ISSN: 2181-2020 MPHAPP THE 6TH INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE “MODERN PHARMACEUTICS: ACTUAL PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS” TASHKENT, OCTOBER 17, 2025 in-academy.uz COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GLUCOCORTICOID PRICES IN THE TREATMENT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS Seytniyazova B.M. Suyunov N.D. Tashkent Pharmaceutical Institute, Tashkent city, Republic of Uzbekistan e-mail: [email protected] https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17332518 Relevance: rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease of connective tissue, characterized by progressive joint damage and deformity, as well as the development of disability. Contemporary pharmacotherapy includes disease-modifying ant rheumatic drugs, biological agents, and symptomatic treatment. Glucocorticoids are administered in combination with other therapeutic agents and play an important role in controlling the inflammatory process and managing disease exacerbations. International and national clinical guidelines confirm their efficacy and widespread application, which highlights the relevance of analyzing the availability of these medications. Purpose of the study: is to conduct a comparative analysis of the prices of prednisolone and methylprednisolone recommended in the national clinical protocol for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Materials and methods: the study utilized data from the "Farm Portal" ("Reference Price List") as of September 14, 2025. A comparative analysis was performed on the retail prices of prednisolone and methylprednisolone pharmaceutical products, categorized by international non-proprietary names and brand names, with consideration of dosage forms and manufacturers. Results: the analysis revealed that the range of prednisolone and methylprednisolone medications is represented by multiple brand names produced by different manufacturers. № Internation al nonpropriety name Brand names Manufacturer Retail price, UZS Country of origin 1 Prednisolon e Prednisolone -RG 30 mg/ml, 1 ml, № 5 (1x5) Remedy Group JV Ltd. 23,184 Uzbekistan 2 Prednisolone 30 mg/ml 1 ml, № 10 Radiks Ltd. 34,003.2 Uzbekistan 3 Prednisolone -RG 30 mg/ml, 1 ml , №10 (2x5) Remedy Group JV Ltd. 30,912 Uzbekistan 4 Prednisolone 30 mg/ml 1 ml, № 10 (2x5) Ellara Ltd. 29,951.1 4 Russia 5 Prednisolone 30 mg/ml 1 ml, № 5 (1x5) Uzgermed Pharm JV Ltd. 33,120 Uzbekistan 6 Prednisolone SD 5 mg, № 50 (5x10) Sharq Darmon Ltd. 29,566.5 Uzbekistan 180 Volume 5, Issue 10: Special Issue (EJAR) ISSN: 2181-2020 MPHAPP THE 6TH INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE “MODERN PHARMACEUTICS: ACTUAL PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS” TASHKENT, OCTOBER 17, 2025 in-academy.uz 7 Prednisolone 5 mg, № 40 (2x20) JSC Vinh phuc pharmaceutical 41,659.6 1 Vietnam 8 PrednisoloneDarnytsia 5 mg, № 40 (4x10) PrJSC Darnytsia 34,211.5 7 Ukraine 9 Prednisolone 5 mg, № 100 (10x10) Co.ltd. Shandong Xier Kangtai Pharmaceutical 35,671.4 8 China 10 Prednisolone 30 mg/ml 1 ml, № 3 (3x1) Agio Pharmaceuticals Ltd. 18,006.1 India 11 Prednisolone 5 mg, № 100 (10x10) Aburaihan Pharmaceutical Co. 54,282.0 3 Iran 12 Methylpred nisolone Solu-Medrol 500 mg Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium NV 272,189. 92 Belgium 13 Solu-Medrol 1000 mg Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium NV 571,385. 76 Belgium 14 Avimedrol 4 mg, № 30 (3x10) Avantika Medex Pvt. Ltd. 112,690. 57 India 15 Avimedrol 16 mg, № 30 (3x10) Avantika Medex Pvt. Ltd. 270,457. 37 India 16 Slideron 4 mg, № 20 (2x10) AD BalkanpharmaRazgrad 89,931.0 4 Bulgaria 17 Slideron 16 mg, № 20 (2x10) AD BalkanpharmaRazgrad 213,975. 24 Bulgaria 18 Slideron 500 mg LTD United Biotech (P) 134,363. 7 India The range of prednisolone medications is represented by different formulations: ampoules (30 mg/ml) priced from 18,006.1 to 34,003.2 UZS, and tablets (5 mg) priced from 29,566.5 to 54,282.03 UZS. The range of methylprednisolone medications includes intravenous formulations (500-1000 mg) priced from 134,363.7 to 571,385.76 UZS, and tablets (4-16 mg) priced from 89,931.04 to 270,457.37 UZS. These findings indicate that methylprednisolone constitutes a significantly more expensive therapeutic option compared to prednisolone, with the greatest cost difference observed for injections. Conclusions: the comparative analysis demonstrated that methylprednisolone pharmaceutical products are, on average, 3-10 times more expensive than prednisolone, which may substantially reduce their accessibility for patients. Furthermore, the price variation within each drug group reaches 181 Volume 5, Issue 10: Special Issue (EJAR) ISSN: 2181-2020 MPHAPP THE 6TH INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE “MODERN PHARMACEUTICS: ACTUAL PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS” TASHKENT, OCTOBER 17, 2025 in-academy.uz up to twofold, indicating considerable market heterogeneity. These findings underscore the necessity of incorporating price considerations into strategies for ensuring equitable access to essential medicines. They also emphasize the importance of rational drug selection within clinical protocols and the potential need for policy measures aimed at improving affordability and optimizing resource allocation in healthcare systems.