2012 - 2017 : $150bn pasarán a genéricos.

The global generics market is expected to reach $231bn by 2017, led by patent expiries on blockbuster drugs and the growth of emerging markets, according to a new report.

Analysts at Frost & Sullivan also highlighted impact of government cost-cutting measures and say sales of generics will grow by over $100bn, up from the $123.85bn generated in 2010.

Their Generic Pharmaceuticals Market – A Global Analysis report that generics manufacturers will benefit from the patent expiries of blockbusters, with revenues worth $150bn.

Heading up these are Pfizer’s Lipitor, which lost its patent protection in the US at the end of 2011 and is due to lose exclusivity in Europe in May 2012.

Lilly will also be hit hard by generic competition to its antipsychotic Zyprexa (olanzapine), with revenues of the drug expected to fall by $3bn for 2012.

The recession and changing priorities in healthcare are also expected to affect the generics market, with governments increasingly looking for the most cost-effective treatment.

Frost & Sullivan research analyst Aiswariya Chidambaram said: “The increase in the prevalence of chronic disorders, newly reported diseases and ageing populations have resulted in tremendous pressure being placed on governments to implement cost containment measures and curb rampant healthcare expenditure.”

Regions such as India, China, Brazil, Russia, Turkey and South Korea, were identified by the research as areas of ‘huge potential’ that still remains untapped by the generics industry. (Más)

Imagen: Brazilian Pharmaceutical Industry Federation (Febrafarma), Group of Executives of the Pharmaceutical Market (Grupemef), IMS Health, BMI