In sector of prescription-free medication to increase revenues

Drugmakers are expanding investments in lines of non-prescription drugs (OTC) to leverage sales. With steady growth in recent years, the segment has been gaining relevance in the strategy of the companies in the sector.
"The OTC market grows a little more when compared to the rest of the pharmaceutical industry, standard that should remain in the coming years," says the President of the Brazilian Association of non-prescription drugs (Abimip), Jonas Marques.
For him, the quantity of innovations in products and the low price in relation to drugs that require a prescription help explain this breakthrough in faster pace. "Considering the fact that this market is still not consolidated in the country, so we have plenty of room to grow," he says.
The decrease in consumer income, however, has impacted the demand for these drugs and, in 2015, the advance should be weaker when compared to previous years.
"Companies suffer from the same problems throughout the pharmaceutical industry, as the impact of the devaluation of the Brazilian real on import costs of raw materials. But even with a slowdown in consumption, the category still grows two digits, "says the Manager.
Aspen Pharma, manufacturer of the brand milk of magnesia and Kwell, advanced last year about of 15% in sales volume of MIP. In 2015, the company designs high of 8%.
"In recent years, we started to invest more in MIP Division, which has been growing with the acquisition of the brand milk of magnesia", says the company's marketing manager, Jackson Figueiredo.
Currently, the non-prescription drugs represent about 40% of the manufacturer's business in Brazil.
According to the Executive, the Aspen stake in OTC category to expand gains in volume. "We intend to increasingly larger MIP slice in billing", quotes.
In assessing Forbes, MIP can be an alternative for Drugmakers to explore new markets, without the stiff competition they face in the segment of prescription medications.
An eye on the possibility of expanding sales of OTC, generic maker Prati Donaduzzi comes broadening the portfolio and currently produces about 60 non-prescription drugs.
"The company has been tracking the growth of this market in recent years and, based on that, decided to strengthen its portfolio and launch a line of multivitamin differentiated," said the company in a note sent to the DCI.
At Aché, the OTC Division, which today represents about 11% of the revenue, also has been gaining greater participation in recent years.
"The prospect is that the OTC business to gain more and more importance. This year, however, sales are growing at a lesser pace, "says the Director of MIP unit Aché, Caesar Bentim.
He explains that the company's strategy to continue growing must occur through the launch of its own products or the purchase of brands on the market.
Owner of Decongex, Aché Flogoral and expects to launch seven new products in the OTC Division in the first half of next year.
"We will continue investing in the Division next year and we can throw even more products. But in this case mainly depend on the release of the national health surveillance agency (Anvisa) to deliver the products to the market, "reveals Bentim.
Challenges
The Executive recalls that one of the main challenges of the sector is the waiting time for approval of a MIP. "Today, the time period for release is similar to a prescription medication", CITES him.
Jonas Marques, Abimip, remember that one of the main demands of the sector is the improvement of regulation. "There is already a rule, but it's not very clear. So the makers of MIP need always submit a medicine at a time for approval on Anvisa, "he says.
With the improvement of the parameters to regulate the sector, the manager expects that companies will be able to keep the expansion in the double digits.
"If the manufacturers maintaining investments in innovation and offer promotions, without doubt will continue growing," says Mahmoud.