Global generic drug revenues to reach $137.6 billion in 2015, says Visiongain

Worldwide generic drug revenues will reach a value of $137.6 billion in 2015, according to a new report from business information firm Visiongain, titled: Generic Drugs: World Market Outlook 2011-2021. The world prescription generics market - worth less than $50 billion in 2004 - reached $96.4 billion in 2010, it stated.

If a more general definition of generic medicines is used, the market may be worth over $150 billion a year. In the USA, generic drug sales have more than tripled since 2000, with copy medicines now accounting for about 70% of the prescriptions dispensed in the USA. Generic market shares will increase this decade as more branded drugs face patent expiry, most notably blockbusters such as Pfizer’s Lipitor (atorvastatin).