PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 474 - 26 Mar 2005

Drug sales up, advertising to bebanned in China

Pharmaceutical sales in China grew 28% during 2004to reach $US9.5 billion, making it the most rapidlygrowing market worldwide, according to IMS Healthdata, says the Pink Sheet.1

China’s growth rate is four times that of the worldaverage, and accounts for one-quarter of allpharmaceutical sales growth outside of the EU, NorthAmerica and Japan. Currently, China is the world’s ninthlargest pharmaceutical market, and is predicted to moveup to the eighth largest by 2008, says IMS Health.

Meanwhile, drug advertising is to be prohibited inChina by the country’s government, reportsMarketletter: Pharma News Daily.2

Most drug advertisements illegalChina’s Health Ministry has announced to the

country’s parliament that it is drafting a proposal to theState Council to impose such a ban. The majority of drugadvertisements in newspapers are illegal, says the StateFDA, and many are advertisements which can onlylawfully be published in professional medical journals.1. Global Rx sales reach $550 Bil., IMS says; China is leading growth. FDC

Reports - Pink Sheet - Prescription Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology 67: 11,No. 11, 14 Mar 2005.

2. China to ban drug ads. Marketletter 32: 16, No. 11, 14 Mar 2005.800999126

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 26 Mar 2005 No. 4741173-5503/10/0474-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved