“The fourth quarter growth can be explained by both the low value of the fourth quarter of 2010, as well as by stepping up seasonal actions and the development of the parallel export, which is getting increasingly more complex, and includes retail pharmacies, as well,” said Petru Craciun, general manager of Cegedim Romania.
While the market rose by 11.5% in value (in euros), the volume growth was 6.6%, which shows an increase in the average weighted price. The average price last year was 22.1 lei (EUR5.07).
Over-the-counter drugs posted the highest growth in volume, 11.4%.
Heart drugs were the top-sellers in Romania, last year, reaching almost RON2 billion (EUR0.46 billion), which accounts for an 18.1% market share.
There were no changes in terms of top ranking companies in this business. Sanofi remained the leading producer, followed by Hoffmann La Roche. The top ten companies accounted for 55.8% of the market together.
Sanofi’s sales stood at RON873.8 million (EUR200 million) according to Cegedim data. Cegedim Romania posted EUR5.5 million revenue last year and had 70 employees. (EUR1=RON4.3554)
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)