Hepatic protectors, anti-viral vaccines and blood-related products rank first, second and third in terms of percentage of newly launched products that are reporting declining sales, according to a retail sales study conducted by AC Nielsen-ORG-MARG. The lowest decline has been reported by parenteral preparations, rejuvenators/sex stimulants and anti-diabetes drugs in that order.

The study has been conducted on the products launched in the period August 2000- July 2001 and their performance was evaluated in the next year (August 2001-July 2002).

In July 2001 MAT, a total of 1412 products were introduced, recording sales of Rs 1,028 crore. The number of degrowing products was 226, which corresponds to 16 per cent of the entire new products range.

The worst decline has been reported by the segment of hepatic protectors, which had two new introductions in July 2001 MAT and had a turnover of Rs 2 crore. One of the products reported degrowth taking the decline percentage to 50 per cent.

In the period under study, 12 products were introduced in the anti-viral vaccines segment with sales of Rs 2.7 crore. Four of these have shown negative growth, taking the percentage to 33 per cent.

Seventy six blood-related products were introduced, grossing sales of Rs 75.8 crore. Of these, 18 fell in the negative growth path. The segment earned a decline percentage of 24 per cent.

The parenteral preparations segment, which saw only one introduction, did not show any signs of degrowth.

While 85 new products were introduced in the anti-diabetes segment with a turnover of Rs 94.8 crore, five of them showed negative growth, accounting for a decline percentage of six.

Eighteen rejuvenators/sex stimulants were introduced in the market with a turnover of Rs 37.3 crore in the period under study. Only one product showed negative growth, giving a decline percentage of six.

The largest number of introductions 268 out of the total 1412 in July 2001 MAT was in the segment of antibiotics. The value of these products stood at Rs 209.4 crore, and 60 of them have shown negative growth, taking the percentage of products on decline to 22 per cent.

The second largest number of new products was witnessed by the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers. The introductions numbered 198, sales amounted to Rs 153.5 crore, 41 products degrew. The percentage of decline stood at 21 per cent.

The third largest number of introductions came in the gastro-intestinal segment where there were 125 launches with a turnover of Rs 87.8 crore. The number of products that suffered negative growth was 22 corresponding to a decline percentage of 18 per cent.