FOI release

Freedom of Information request on the pricing strategy from CPRD and on SME's (FOI 21/1074)

Published 27 April 2022

19th October 2021

FOI 21/1074

Dear

Thank you for your information request, dated 22nd September 2021, where you asked for the following information:

1. Since the introduction of the revised pricing strategy, how many SMEs have been charged the full commercial rate of per year, and how many the lower rate (£150k)?

2. How many times, by year, since the introduction of the increased pricing strategy has CPRD charged those on an ‘academic licence’ the differential cost for commercial studies they conduct, by the number of individual studies?

3. Where in the public domain is detailed the terms and conditions of the pricing strategy that we had imposed on us?

4. Since the introduction of the revised pricing strategy, is there any other company or companies who have had imposed on them by CPRD the same terms, conditions and pricing as we have?

Regarding question 1:

I am pleased to provide you with the information requested. Since the introduction of the revised pricing strategy on December 2018 no SMEs that would qualify for the SME commercial multi-study licence (i.e., SMEs without affiliates) have been charged the full multi-study licence fee. A total of 2 SMEs qualified for the SME multi-study licence fee and were charged accordingly since the introduction of the revised pricing strategy to date.

Regarding question 2:

I can confirm that CPRD does not have an ‘increased pricing strategy’, therefore I can confirm that we do not hold the information that you have requested.

I can confirm that CPRD does charge commercial pass through costs for any commercially funded study undertaken by an academic institution on a Tier 3 (non-commercial multi-study) licence, or externally funded study undertaken by an SME institution on a Tier 2 (SME commercial multi-study) licence.

Regarding question 3:

I am pleased to provide you with the information requested. CPRD pricing conditions can be found on the CPRD website – www.cprd.com/pricing

Regarding question 4:

I am pleased to provide you with the information requested. I can confirm that the number of companies that have contracted with CPRD on a Tier 1 full multi-study licence terms, conditions and pricing since the introduction of the revised pricing strategy is 22 in total from December 2018 to October 2021. It is entirely a company’s decision to contract with CPRD, and if they are not able or willing to comply with the licencing requirements then CPRD does not enter into an agreement with them.

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