Share of generics in Russian pharma market steadily growing

The share of generics in the Russian pharmaceutical market is steadily growing despite the efforts of the local state to create conditions for the production of original drugs, The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent reports.

According to the Russian research agency DSM Group, over the past six years, the share of localized generics on the Russian market has grown from 62% to 70% in volume terms. Thus, in 2024, their number amounted to 19,753 items, compared to 19,036 in 2018. According to Russian pharmacies, the biggest growth in sales of generic drugs in 2024 was observed in the segment of antidiabetic drugs (+118% in 2024). In value terms, the generics market in 2024 is estimated at approximately 1.2 trillion roubles ($14.7 billion), or about 50% of the pharmaceutical market as a whole.

For comparison: in 2023, sales of generic drugs amounted to 800 billion roubles (36% of the market). It is expected, that the share of generics in the local market will continue to grow, while in a joint study Ozon Pharmaceuticals and DSM Group predicted an increase in the share of generics on the Russian market to 67% in value terms by 2030.