LATIN AMERICAN DRUG SALES GROW STRONGLY IN 12 MONTHS TO OCTOBER

According to data recently released by IMS Health, retail pharmacy drug sales in three leading Latin American markets grew by an average 13% in the year to October 2004. The data especially illustrate the continued recovery of the Brazilian and Argentine drug markets, with growth at 23% and 20% respectively, although Mexican growth was slower, at 11% in constant exchange rate terms.

By therapeutic area, central nervous system preparations continued to lead the Argentine market, with sales of some US$318mn in the period, reflecting the country's relatively advanced development status. However, alimentary and metabolism led sales in Mexico and Brazil, respectively with sales of US$1.17bn and US$813mn, and Mexican retail anti-infectives sales totalled US$928mn, reflecting the country's more basic health sector requirements.