BERLIN, July 25 (Reuters) - Germany wants to extend a pricebrake for drugs covered by statutory health insurance for fiveyears beyond 2017, stretching out the measure introduced in2009, a draft law seen by Reuters shows.
The health ministry estimates savings from the extensionwill amount to between 1.5 and 2.0 billion euros ($1.65-2.19billion), ministry sources said.
Under the draft law, the government in Germany, Europe'sbiggest market for medicines, also wants to lower prices ofnewly launched drugs within the first 12 months if sales aregreater than 250 million euros.($1 = 0.9113 euros) (Reporting by Thorsten Severin; Writing by Paul Carrel; Editingby Caroline Copley)