Generics seen slashing global drug sales growth | Reuters

By Ransdell Pierson

NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) - Global sales growth of prescription drugs could be cut in half over the next five years as lucrative brands lose patent protection and cheaper generics and emerging markets become the only significant growth drivers, according to IMS Health

"Past patterns of spending offer few clues about the level of expected growth through 2015," said Murray Aitken, an IMS Health executive whose division conducted the study.

"There are unprecedented dynamics at play, which are driving rapid shifts in the mix of spending by patients and payers between branded products and generics," said Aitken, whose company tracks prescription drug sales and trends.

Average annual sales are expected to grow 3 to 6 percent during the period, reaching nearly $1.1 trillion by 2015. But the trend reflects a slowdown from annual growth of 6.2 percent seen during the past five years, the report said.

U.S. sales will grow only 0 to 3 percent a year over the period, while sales in Europe will rise 1 to 4 percent. Spending on branded drugs is expected to be little changed in such developed markets in 2015, with growth coming instead from higher demand for cheaper generics.

via reuters.com

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