IMS : Top generics en 2008

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This year, according to Standard & Poor's research, branded drug sales are set to decline for the first time. That's partly due to the economy, but also due to increasing competition from generics.

IMS Health, the industry's clearinghouse for drug sales data, says that $24 billion worth of branded drugs this year will get generic competitors, up from $18 billion last year. The figure will hit $30 billion by 2012.

That's why, even though drug companies are some of the most profitable businesses in the world, investors are sour on them unless they've got a lot of new discoveries in the pipeline. Drug stocks hit a record low price-to-earnings ratio of 10x in June, according to S&P.

Investors know the generic onslaught will only continue. In the coming years, patents for blockbuster drugs like Lipitor, Viagra, and Plavix will expire. That's in addition to familiar drugs like Wellbutrin and Zithromax that already have generic competitors.

Here, based on data from IMS, are the best-selling generic drugs of last year:

1. Fentanyl
Launched: January 2005
2008 sales: $900 million
Branded equivalent: Duragesic, by Janssen,
2008 sales of $1.1 billion




2. Amlodipine besylate and benazepril hydrochloride
Launched: July 2007
2008 sales: $779 million
Branded equivalent: Norvasc, by Pfizer (PFE, Fortune 500),
2008 sales of $2.2 billion



3. Metoprolol succinate
Launched: May 2008
2008 sales: $675 million
Branded equivalent: Toprol, by AstraZeneca (AZN),
2008 sales $807 million




4. Lamotrigine
Launched: February 2005
2008 sales: $671 million
Branded equivalent: Lamictal, by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK),
2008 sales $1.6 billion




5. Risperidone
Launched: September 2008
2008 sales: $610 million
Branded equivalent: Risperdal, by Janssen,
2008 sales $2.1 billion





6. Omeprazole
Launched: July 2008
2008 sales: $609.8 million
Branded equivalent: Prilosec, by AstraZeneca,
2008 sales $1.1 billion




7. Azithromycin
Launched: November 2005
2008 sales: $599 million
Branded equivalent: Zithromax, by Pfizer,
2008 sales $429 million





8. Budeprion
Launched: December 2006
2008 sales: $521 million
Branded equivalent: Wellbutrin, by Biovail (BVF),
2008 sales $579 million