IMS Health reports bounce-back in US Rx drug sales, which increased 5.1% in 2009 to $300.3 billion, but generics uptake continues

Major pharmaceutical market research group IMS Health says that US sales of ethical pharmaceuticals and insulins through retail and non-retail channel grew 5.1% in 2009s, reaching $300.3 billion, compared with growth of 1.8%in 2008.

The greater availability of generic options, growing differentials in co-pays between brands and generics, and efforts by patients, insurers and employers to encourage appropriate use of lower-cost alternatives were all factors in the changing mix of medicines used in patient treatment last year, said IMS.

'In 2009, demand for pharmaceuticals proved stronger than in the prior two years, yet remained at historically low levels,' said Murray Aitken, IMS senior vice president, Healthcare Insight. 'While the 32 innovative products launched last year brought important new treatment options to patients in a number of disease areas, including cancer, thrombosis and atrial fibrillation, they drove only a limited increase in drug spending. Access for the first time to lower-cost generic treatment options in the areas of epilepsy, migraine, and immune system disorders had a more moderate impact on market growth than generic launches in previous years. Stronger patient demand for prescription drugs throughout 2009, both for new therapy starts and refills, underscores the resilience of pharmacotherapies in today's healthcare equation,' he added.