Brazil Retail Drug Sales Climb to US$620mn in 2004

The 2004 data for Brazil's retail drug sales indicate a 10.3% year-on-year rise to 1.65bn units, and a 17.67% growth in value terms to BRL19.8mn (US$620.14mn). However, local drugmakers' association Febrafarma cautions that the strong results only imply a recovery from six consecutive years of falling sales in the sector.

Generic drugmakers have been the leading beneficiaries of Brazil's rising demand for cheaper healthcare and a general growth in drug consumption. Prominent local generics producer EMS-Sigma Pharma, which has two manufacturing units in São Paulo, reported that turnover from generic medicines has now risen to 23% of total earnings. In the year, the company moved from fourth to second place in Brazil's retail sales, with a market share of 5.16%.

Meanwhile, local sales reported by US drug major Merck & Co. fell 9.6%, mainly due to the withdrawal of its Vioxx anti-inflammatory in October 2004, although Brazilian drug regulator Anvisa notably reversed its opinion on the drug last month.