Sales of generic drugs reached a record volume of 71.2 million units in the first quarter of this year, up 19.4% over the same period last year, according to the Generic Pro (Brazilian Association of Generic Medicines) .
In figures, the sales of the industrial sector amounted to U.S. $ 406 million from $ 444.2 million recorded in the first quarter of last year, representing a fall of 18.5%.
Pro-Generic, however, stressed that the figures were impacted by the devaluation of the real against the dollar. In the Brazilian currency, sales of the segment evolved 21.7% in the same comparison, from R $ 771.5 million to $ 939 million.
The market share of generics in units ended the quarter at 17.7%, up 2.1 percentage point participation compared to 15.6% in the same period last year. In value, the market share has also evolved. Generics accounted for 14.2% stake in values in the Brazilian pharmaceutical market in the first three months of 2009 compared to 12.8% last year.
The total pharmaceutical market also grew in the first quarter. The whole industry had sales of 402.6 million units between January and March 2009 against 383 million in the same period of 2008, closing high of 5.1%. The criterion value was contracted by 17.4% in the period due to the impact of exchange.
It said to delete the generic assessment, the pharmaceutical market grew 2.5% in volume of units sold. Were 331.3 million in the first quarter against 323.3 million in the same period of 2008.
To Odnir Finotti, president of Pro-Generic, the segment has been taking advantage of the economic crisis to win over consumers who were not accustomed to generics, but in one scene to contain domestic spending ended up consuming products in the category. "When the crisis passes, we are aware that these consumers continue to buy the generic," said the executive. Generics, by law, are bound to cost at least 35% less than the reference drugs. On average, this decrease will cost 45% less.
Finotti has said that devaluation is not harmful to the business sector, since most have capital from the country and more than 80% of the segment is local. "The pharmaceutical market is audited in U.S. dollars, and the general is no different. Although the values resulting from handling the sales were lower, we reaffirm that this is a matter of conversion. Growth was higher than expected for the economic moment current.
The executive said that the growth projections for 2009 will be maintained. The organization expects 20% growth in units and values, considering the real as the currency of reference.
Source: Reuters
