The top ten players' share of the Romanian drug market advanced to 54% at the end of the first half, after late last year they held less than 53% of the market, according to the data released by Cegedim market research firm. UK's GlaxoSmithKline remained in the lead on the domestic market in the first six months of this year, being followed, as last year, by Switzerland's Hoffmann La Roche and by Sanofi-Aventis.
As a matter of fact, no changes occurred in terms of top ten players' positions, while the second half of the ranking .saw considerable modifications. Domestic producer Sindan Pharma climbed one position to the 12th spot, like Menarini, which came out 13th. Ozone Laboratories took the biggest leap, two positions, ranking 14th. Meanwhile, the US' Schering Plough dropped three positions, ranking 15th, while Gedeon Richter slipped one position to 16.
Overall, the pharmaceutical market resumed its steady growth in the second quarter, while having posted weaker results in the first three months.
Thus, sales of pharmaceutical products in the second quarter reached 1.32bn RON (375m euros), Cegedim data reveal. Under the circumstances, total sales of pharmaceutical products went up by 14.5% during the July 2005-June 2006 period.
Drug sales through pharmacies posted the highest growth, by over 20%, while sales to hospitals dropped by some 0.8%. At the same time, sales of drugs released through medical prescriptions rose by around 19.2%, while sales of over-the-counter drugs saw stronger growth, by 23%.
Among drug categories, drugs for the cardiovascular system did best, increasing by 31.5%, followed by drugs for the central nervous system and the muscular-skeletal system.
Pharmaceutical market progression was also helped during this period by price reductions operated by the Health Ministry.
Despite the progress in the first half of this year, people are still queuing up in front of pharmacies.
"Queues were an isolated phenomenon, though, and were largely triggered by a local management of funds for subsidised and free drugs that was not adjusted to reality. At the same time, in several cases, many patients went to a small number of pharmacies," explained Marcian Gavrilescu, general manager of LaborMed Pharma Trading.
Under the circumstances, the market potential maintains high and Romania may even witness the strongest growth in the region in the coming years. "The Romanian market is extremely attractive. Romania is expected to generate the highest growth in Central and Eastern Europe in the next 3 years. In 2005, the market went beyond 1bn euros. It will head toward 1.5bn euros this year and may reach 3bn euros by 2008-2009," said Laurentiu Scheusan, general manager of Sindan drug maker.
Pharmaceutical market
The top 10 players' share of the overall market increased to 54% in H1 from less than 53% late last year
Resumed its steady growth pace in the second quarter, after having posted weaker figures in the first 3 months
Total sales of pharmaceutical products rose 14.5% during July 2005-June 2006 period
Drug sales through pharmacies posted the highest growth, over 20%
Likely to see the strongest growth in the region in the coming years
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