Retail drug sales in year to May 2008

Retail pharmacy drug sales in 13 major markets during the 12 months to May 2008 have reached $431.8 billion, reports IMS Health's Retail Drug Monitor. Since the April report (Marketletter July 28), the UK and Italy have held a small lead over Canada, despite the European nations being the only two countries to experience zero growth. Currency fluctuations in coming months seem likely to determine which of these three markets will remain the largest. The fastest-expanding region remains Australia and New Zealand, with a combined market of $7.8 billion, up 13%, beating the previously-recorded 12%.

The leading nations in the Latin American market grew 9%, down 1% from the April report. Sales in the three Latin countries reached $23.2 billion. Argentina remains the fastest-growing market surveyed by IMS, with year-on-year growth at 21% to $2.8 billion. Brazil holds to a steady and vigorous 10% advance, the second-fastest rate for any single country covered in the survey. The retail drug market for Brazil remains ahead of Mexico's at $11.6 billion vs $8.7 billion. The latter continues to grow at 6%.