Domestic Pharma Sales Growth Falls To Two-Year Low

Domestic pharma sales growth dipped to a two-year low in October as the extended monsoon drew to a close.

Pharma sales grew at 5.1 percent in October compared with 11.9 percent in September and 12.5 percent a year ago, according to data released by AIOCD AWACS—a pharmaceutical market research firm.

That translates to sales worth Rs 12,267 crore in October, the research firm said, attributing the drop in sales across therapies to an extended monsoon coming to an end. Volumes contracted 2.7 percent in the month, with prices rising 5.2 percent and 2.5 percent growth from new introductions.

Key Highlights:

• Acute segment which accounts for 47 percent of the Indian pharma market grew 7.9 percent.
• Chronic segment which accounts for 33 percent of the market grew 11.5 percent.
• Sub-chronic segment, with 20 percent market share, grew 8.4 percent.
• Among the top 50 companies, 27 registered growth over 10 percent.
• Among the top 50 corporates, 40 registered growth in October
• Indian and foreign companies grew at 5 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively.

How Companies Fared

• Among the top 10 companies, Lupin Ltd.’s growth was the highest, at 9 percent, followed by Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd.’s 8.4 percent.
• Among the next 10 top companies, Aristo Pharma grew the most, at 17.8 percent, followed by Pfizer Ltd.’s 17.7 percent and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. at 17.5 percent.
• Among the next 10 top companies, Cadila Healthcare Ltd.’s 10.5 percent growth was the highest. Peers FDC Ltd. and Indoco Remedies Ltd. grew 4.6 percent and 3.3 percent, respectively.

• Boehringer Ingelheim grew the most among foreign companies, at 38.9 percent, followed by Fresenius Kabi (30.7 percent), Eli Lilly (21.8 percent), Roche (18.8 percent), Pfizer (17.7 percent) and Sanofi India Ltd. (2.2 percent).