Domestic pharma sales data for September suggests moderation in the growth. According to data released by market research firm AIOCD AWACS, the growth in secondary sales (sales at retailer level) for the industry was 12.1 per cent in September. This is down from 13.7 per cent growth recorded in August.
However, secondary sales for the twelve-month period ended September jumped by 16.6 per cent compared to the same period last year.
Corona Remedies sales rose the most in September. The company’s secondary sales soared 89.7 per cent, compared with September last year. Among the larger companies, Mankind Pharma witnessed fastest growth for the month, an increase of 42.3 per cent.
Listed space gainers
In the listed space, IPCA Labs’ sales grew at a healthy 19.1 per cent compared with September last year.
Other companies which managed to outpace the pharma market include Glenmark Pharma (18.7 per cent), Sun Pharma (17.4 per cent), Zydus Cadila (17.3 per cent), Pfizer (16.5 per cent), FDC (13.3 per cent) and Lupin (13.2 per cent).
In contrast, Astrazeneca’s sales plummeted 13.6 per cent for the month.
Among the listed companies, Indoco Remedies (3 per cent), Dr Reddys Labs (5 per cent), Ranbaxy Labs (5.6 per cent), Unichem (8.4 per cent) and Torrent (9.5 per cent) grew slower than the market.
GlaxoSmithkline Pharma (12 per cent) and Cipla (10.3 per cent) managed double-digit growth for the month, albeit lower than the industry.
Therapy-wise growth
Interestingly, anti-infectives (18.1 per cent) and respiratory (16.3 per cent), as a therapy segment, grew ahead of the market.
Thanks to the delayed monsoon, there was strong offtake of drugs in these segments.
However, sales of drugs catering to gynaecology, pain and analgesics therapies slumped during the month.