2009 Año de nieves...?

Initial expectations for growth in the US market of 4%-6% have been revised downward because of the economic climate, and also reflect continuing patent expiries and fewer new product launches this year. Nevertheless, the healthcare industry “continues to be a star in the US economy,” says NAPRx, which is the largest US trade association for pharmaceutical salespeople.


The top five European Union (EU) countries - France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK - will grow 3%-4% this year, reaching sales of $162-$172 billion, it forecasts.


Japan, the world's second-largest market, will see higher growth, at 4%-5% to $84-$88 billion, boosted by approvals for new anti-cancer agents, disease prevention programmes and the absence this year of the government's biennial price cuts.


The “pharmerging” markets - China, Brazil, India, South Korea, Mexico, Turkey and Russia - are expected to grow at a combined rate of 14%-15%, producing overall sales of $105-$115 billion. Along with the pharmaceutical industry's growing focus on these high-growth markets, they are benefiting from increased government spending on healthcare and broader public and private healthcare funding, which is driving greater access to and demand for innovative medicines, it says.


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