Retail drug sales in year to June 2008

Retail pharmacy drug sales in 13 major markets during the 12 months to June 2008 have reached $434.0 billion, reports IMS Health's Retail Drug Monitor. Since the May results (Marketletter August 4), the UK has held a small lead over Canada and Italy, despite being the only country to experience negative growth. Currency fluctuations in the coming months remain likely to decide which of these three markets will emerge as the largest. The fastest-expanding region remains Australia and New Zealand, with a combined market of $7.9 billion, up 12%, hovering near the previously-recorded 13%.

The leading nations in the Latin American market grew 9%, unchanged from the May report. Sales in the three Latin countries reached $23.2 billion. Argentina is the fastest-growing market surveyed by IMS, with year-on-year growth at 20% to $2.9 billion. Brazil holds to a steady and vigorous 10% advance, the second-fastest for any single country covered in the survey, reaching $11.6 billion. Mexico, like Argentina, slowed one percentage point from the previous growth data for a rate of 6% for $8.7 billion.

Canada level with Italy, catching UK