| Pharmaceutical Industry Market Review Report ( ) | | | | population, this trend looks set to continue. The |
| which gives the information about the growth of | | | | most important therapeutic areas are likely to |
| Pharmaceutical Industry Market. | | | | remain those related to age, such as |
| | | | | cardiovascular disease and cancer. Demand for |
| The total UK market for pharmaceuticals was | | | | more effective treatments for neurological |
| worth an estimated £13.65bn in 2007. | | | | problems such as Alzheimer\'s disease and |
| Prescription-only medicines accounted for most of | | | | psychiatric conditions is also likely to intensify. |
| this figure, with a smaller share being taken by | | | | |
| over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals. | | | | The Government would like to place a greater |
| | | | | emphasis on self-care -- a strategy obviously |
| The UK is home to the most important | | | | supported by the OTC sector. Growth in sales of |
| pharmaceutical industry in Europe in terms of | | | | OTC medicines has been sluggish in recent years, |
| development and marketing. In 2006, the industry | | | | and a fiercely competitive retail environment, |
| exported £13.8bn worth of medicines and | | | | creating downward pressure on prices, is likely to |
| showed a trade surplus of £4.3bn. The UK | | | | remain a feature of the UK market. As long as |
| market is also one of the most cost-effective in | | | | exemption from prescription charges remains so |
| Europe and, arguably, the world. Since 2005, the | | | | widespread, it is difficult to find ways of |
| introduction of a new Pharmaceutical Price | | | | encouraging consumers to self-medicate. |
| Regulation Scheme (PPRS) and the wider use of | | | | However, the research carried out for this report |
| generic products have brought about a reduction | | | | suggests that affluent consumers aged 25 to 54 |
| in per capita expenditure on medicines by the | | | | are the most promising market. |
| NHS. Plans to introduce more value-based pricing | | | | |
| could lead to even greater control over a drug\'s | | | | The global market for pharmaceuticals is likely to |
| long-term future within the Health Service than is | | | | continue to grow as developing countries demand |
| currently the case. The National Institute for | | | | higher standards of healthcare. However, the |
| Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recently | | | | focus on cost control in major markets is likely to |
| approved a pay-for-performance contract for a | | | | be sustained, and this will be reflected in the way |
| new treatment, Velcade, in a departure from the | | | | that drugs are marketed, and also at the level of |
| unit pricing model traditionally used in the market. | | | | research and development (R&D). It may be |
| | | | | that only the most visibly cost-effective |
| Greater analysis of the costs and benefits of | | | | treatments will survive. Nevertheless, the market |
| the medicines used by the NHS is likely to take | | | | will continue to be driven by demand for better |
| place in the future, but demand for | | | | treatments for the most pernicious diseases, and |
| pharmaceuticals continues apace. The number of | | | | this augurs well for the UK pharmaceutical |
| prescriptions written in the UK is rising | | | | industry. |
| year-on-year and, since the UK has an ageing | | | | |