IMS Health, the global healthcare information company, has announced a study revealing 5 per cent growth in drug sales through retail pharmacies in 13 key markets in the 12-month period from March 2005 through to March 2006, closing at US$ 372.10 billion.

According to the report, retail pharmacy sales for these key markets had a 5 per cent growth at constant exchange to March 2006. The study covered the markets of USA, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Australia/New Zealand and Japan. Sales in the top five European markets showed a 5 per cent constant exchange growth. North America posted a 5 per cent sales growth at $198.92 billion in sales in the 12 months period. The key therapy growth area for North America was the cytostatics group with a 15 per cent growth at constant exchange.

Japan's overall growth at constant exchange was 5 per cent, with a market worth $58.65 billion in the 12 months to March 2006. By therapeutic category the key growth area was in the cytostatics category, with sales growth at constant exchange of 14 per cent. The single largest therapeutic sub category in dollar sales continues to be the C10, hypolipidemia, class selling $29.02 billion with a growth of 7 per cent in the 12 months to March 2006. The second biggest group is the A2, anti-ulcerants, class at $22.83 billion and with a 3.3 per cent growth.

The best selling drug for the 12 months ending March 2006 was still Lipitor, worth over $11.47 billion, with a reduced growth at 5.4 per cent. Seretide still has the largest growth at the top with 16.1 per cent.

The top 5 drugs in the year to March 2006 are Lipitor, Nexium, Plavix, Zocor and Seretide respectively. The top 5 corporations in the year to March 2006 are Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Merck & Co. and AstraZeneca, said the IMS report.

Operating in more than 100 countries, IMS Health is the world's leading provider of market intelligence to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. With $1.8 billion in 2005 revenue and more than 50 years of industry experience, IMS offers leading-edge business intelligence products and services that are integral to clients' day-to-day operations, including portfolio optimization capabilities; launch and brand management solutions; sales force effectiveness innovations; managed care and over-the-counter offerings; and consulting and services solutions that improve ROI and the delivery of quality healthcare worldwide.

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