Generics grows 23% revenue in 1st semester

Generic drug sales reached 373.2 million units from January to June this year, an increase of 16% on the same period last year, according to the Brazilian Association of generic drug Industries (Pro-generic). In revenue, the elevation was 23.5% to r $ 6.3 billion in the first half.
The total market of medicines, including the reference products (patent), generics and the like, grew 11% in sales volume, with 1.4 million units, and totaled r $ 27.3 billion, up 16%. With important weight to the overall results of the pharmaceutical industry, without generics the sector would not have brought up double-digit expansion. Excluding these medicines, growth would be at 9%.
With the accumulated data until June, the generics segment was 27.2%. The goal is to reach 30% share in the first half of 2014. The industries have made a review of results, since the initial projection was to reach 30% by the end of 2013. The deceleration of the Brazilian economy has reduced the pace of sales of medicines, which led part of the industries to revise its growth projections. "We pursue this brand since 2011. Although the pace of growth of the sector has decreased, we have occupied our retail pharmacist, consistently reaching the equivalent participation of countries where generics have been around for much longer than in Brazil, "said Telma Salles, Executive President of the entity.
The Pro-generic provides that the participation of these medications range from 35% to 40% in total sales in the Brazilian market until 2020. These projections include the similar, that from the second half of 2014 will have to pass through the same Bioequivalence and bioavailability testing pharmaceutical generics.
From that emerged in the Brazilian market, in 2001, generics have generated savings of r $ 28 billion to Brazilian consumers. With prices on average 50% cheaper than the reference medicinal products, generics also function as regulators of demand and prices.
According to Telma, many companies in the sector have changed its trade policy in order not to lose the market. "We are more optimistic [about 2013]. There has been a maturing of the sector and the consumers themselves, who look at generics as an option to the reference medicine, "he said. To the Pro-generic, the industry should end 2013 with growth of 20% in volume and 25% in revenue.
With the reduction in the pace of sales, many companies have reduced discounts on drugs as a way to not lose the edge.
The medicines for chronic use continue with firm sales in the industry. Generics to treat hypertension, cholesterol and diabetes are among the most sold. "Generics have contributed to increase in access," said Telma.
The dispute in the generics market is becoming increasingly fierce. The Medley, controlled by the French group Sanofi, and national EMS, based in Hortolândia (SP), fight for every percentage point of this market. This week, as reported value, President of Sanofi, Heraldo Marchezini, left the company in Brazil and Latin America due to the poor performance of the Medley in this segment.