World generic Rx drug sales grew 3.6% in year to Sept 2008, down from 11% in 2007

Global prescription sales growth of generics drugs slowed to 3.6% in the year ending September 2008, down from 11.4% in 2007, according to a new  report by IMS Health, the world's leading provider of market  intelligence to the pharmaceutical and health care industries. Global  generic products generated $78.0 billion in audited sales in the period,  reflecting the changing industry dynamics that are also affecting  branded pharmaceutical products.

Murray Aitken, IMS' senior vice president for health care insight, said:  "the global generics market has posted double-digit gains in recent  years. But, in 2008, despite robust volume increases, we are seeing the  first significant decline in sales growth as manufacturers increasingly  compete in fierce price battles within most of the world's major  markets." He added: "this trend is very apparent in markets like the  USA and [the] UK as generics companies contend with aggressive  competition and cost-containment measures enforced by both private and  government payers."

The IMS Global Generics Perspective is an annual report summarizing  sales performance of copycat medicines and major therapeutic classes,  highlighting the key market dynamics that are expected to impact future  growth. The sales data is based on IMS Health MIDAS Market  Segmentation, a global standard for measuring and analyzing the  generics market segment, as well as for understanding market  opportunities and the performance of products beyond patent expiration.