Global pharma sales top $300 billion

Westport, CT-based IMS Health has released data from its annual "World Review" report showing that audited global pharmaceutical sales grew 10% in 2000 to $317.2 billion, up from $295.9 billion in 1999. "The IMS Health World Review" tracks actual sales of approximately 90% of all prescription drugs and certain over-the-counter products in more than 60 countries. Proprietary data projection methodologies are used to estimate total global pharmaceutical sales, which grew to $354 billion in 2000.

"The global pharmaceutical industry experienced solid growth in 2000, although growth rates vary greatly from region to region," said Graham Lewis, IMS Health vice president, strategic consulting. "North America is by far the most dynamic pharmaceutical market in the world, with 14% growth in 2000. We expect overall strong growth to continue in view of the many innovative compounds under development, and the increasing speed of worldwide product launches."

The "World Review" is compiled using IMS Health's MIDAS™ global analysis system, which monitors pharmaceutical activity in more than 60 countries. Growth in sales is measured in local currencies, enabling analysis without the influence of fluctuating currency exchange rates. Pharmaceutical sales figures include prescription and certain over-the-counter data, and represent manufacturer prices.

Leading regions

North America, Europe and Japan accounted for more than 88% of worldwide pharmaceutical consumption in 2000.

North American pharmaceutical sales grew 14% to $152.8 billion, representing more than 48% of total global pharmaceutical sales in 2000. Europe also showed a solid growth of 8% to $75.3 billion, becoming the world's second-largest pharmaceutical market. Japan is now the third-largest market, experiencing a moderate year-to-year growth of 3%. Strong growth opportunities are reflected in the 9% increase in Latin American pharmaceutical sales in 2000, and the 10% pharmaceutical growth in Asia (excluding Japan), Africa and Australia.

Sales cover direct and indirect pharmaceutical channel purchases from pharmaceutical wholesalers and manufacturers. Figures include prescription and certain over-the-counter data, exclude U.S. home healthcare sales, and represent manufacturer prices.

Leading therapy classes

The top ten therapy classes accounted for 31% of the total world market in 2000. Sales of four out of the leading ten - cholesterol and triglyceride reducers, antirheumatic nonsteroidals, antipsychotics and oral antidiabetics - grew more than 20% from 1999.

The antiulcerant class, which represents treatments for stomach ulcers, totaled $17.4 billion in sales last year, and remains the leading therapeutic class worldwide, as it has for the past ten years. Representing 5.5% of all audited global pharmaceutical sales, antiulcerant sales were up 13% from 1999.

The market for cholesterol and triglyceride reducers, drugs used to reduce cholesterol in the bloodstream, grew 21%, placing the class second in sales rankings. Antidepressants, the third-ranked therapy class, experienced 18% sales growth in 2000, reaching $13.4 billion in annual sales. PR