largely to drug-price inflation and biotech or specialized medications, while sales of generics jumped nearly 12%.

When measured in unit sales, the picture for the branded side was even worse. The number of prescriptions dispensed by U.S. pharmacies edged up roughly 1% during the 12-month period ended last June, but the growth was driven by booming demand for low-cost, me-too medications.

According to IMS, generics grew 5.6% in number of prescriptions dispensed, while branded pharmaceuticals, by contrast, actually declined a sobering 9.2% in units. Me-too medications now account for 70% of all U.S. prescriptions dispensed, according to the research company, and Solutions Continued FRoM page 4

Continued on page 9

U.S. prescription growth

Source: IMS Health, National Prescription Audit, June 2009

U.S. sales growth

Sales (U.S. billions) change

Source: IMS Health, National Sales Perspectives, June 2009

“The new and expanding field of specialty pharmacy could bring more biologic products into the pharmacy space, meaning some biologics that are now limited to clinics and hospitals will join insulin and the few others now in pharmacy.”

Doug Long, IMS Health

Market share and growth of top 10 prescription drugs

ma T JUNe 2009

PRODUCTS

U.s. iNDUs Try

1. Lipitor

2. Nexium

3. Plavix

4. Advair Diskus

5. Seroquel

6. Singulair

7. Abilify

8. Actos

9. Enbrel

10. Remicade

TOP 10

(COMPANY)

(Pfi zer)

(AstraZeneca)

(BMS)

(GlaxoSmithKline)

(AstraZeneca)

(Merck & Co.)

(Otsuka America Pharmaceuticals)

(Takeda)

(Amgen)

(Johnson & Johnson)

US$*
$291,804

7,668

6,111

5,212

4,540

3,965

3,548

3,525

3,245

3,164

3,099

$44,076

MARKET SHARE GROWTH

100.0% 3.2%

2.6 - 2. 9

2. 1 7. 2

1. 8 15. 8

1.6 6.1

1. 4 9. 2

1. 2 2. 5

1. 2 35.7

1. 1 5. 8

1. 1 0.1

1. 1 7. 9

15.1% 7.1%