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PharmaLive: IMS Reports 8.3 Percent Dollar Growth in 2004 U.S.
Prescription Sales
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IMS Reports 8.3 Percent Dollar Growth in 2004 U.S.
Prescription Sales
Biotech Remains Industry Growth Engine, With 17 Percent Sales Growth
FAIRFIELD, Conn., February 14, 2005 - IMS HEALTH (NYSE: RX), the world’s leading provider of information and consulting solutions to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, today announced that U.S.
prescription drug sales grew 8.3 percent to $235.4 billion in 2004, compared with $217.3 billion in sales the previous year.
The volume of total U.S.
dispensed prescriptions grew 3.2 percent after adjusting for longer-duration mail order prescriptions, a modest increase over 2003.
Prescription product sales (at wholesale prices) and dispensed prescriptions are derived from the IMSŪ National Sales Perspectives and the IMSŪ National Prescription Audit services, respectively.
“This is the first year since 1995 that the pharmaceutical industry has scored less than double-digit growth,” explained Bruce Boggs, president, IMS Americas.
“However, the industry delivered solid performance overall despite significant business pressures in areas such as drug safety, pricing and generics competition.”
Growth Factors
Key factors for the 2004 pharma industry’s more modest growth included: a mild flu season; increased over-the-counter use of anti-ulcerants and antihistamines, a practice...