Bioprogress Future2

UK generics industry is growing

A NEW REPORT published by Research and Markets indicates that the UK generics industry is competitive, although almost all the major players are owned by overseas companies. The generics sector continues to grow in importance, fuelled by the twin pressures of therapeutically significant products coming off patent and health provider demands for lower prices.

The UK is Europe’s second-largest generics market (Germany is the largest) in overall terms and in terms of generic penetration. In 2004, around 80% of prescriptions were written generically, and 21% of the market by value was generic. The UK government promotes the use of generic prescribing and dispensing within the NHS where possible, and is strongly involved in the pricing of generics. Price rises caused by specific shortages in 1999 have led the government to take action on the general pricing environment. It has also alleged several instances of fraud in the sector, and a number of court cases and legal investigations are ongoing.

Companies involved in the generics market in the UK include Alpharma, Crescent Pharma, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (UK) Ltd, Generics (UK) Ltd, Genus Pharmaceuticals, IVAX Pharmaceuticals UK, Kent Pharmaceuticals, Pliva Pharma Ltd, Ranbaxy (UK) Ltd, Ratiopharm UK, Rosemont Pharmaceutical, Sandoz, Sterwin/Winthrop Pharmaceuticals, Teva UK and Wockhardt UK Ltd.