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Statistics

Our Industry

• U.S. brand pharmaceutical sales for 2005: $229.5 billion. U.S. generic pharmaceutical sales: $22.3 billion. U.S. generic sales increased by 10% from 2003 to 2004. (Source: IMS Health)
• Of the top five U.S. pharmaceutical companies, based on the number of prescriptions dispensed, four are generic companies. They are Novartis (Sandoz), Teva, Mylan and Watson.
• 8,400 of the 11,167 drugs listed in the FDA’s Orange Book  have generic counterparts. (source: FDA, MedAd News)

Generic Prescriptions

• Generic medicines account for 56% of all prescriptions dispensed in the United States. (See chart.)
• Generic pharmaceutical products are used to fill more than one billion prescriptions every year.
• In 2005, the top 10 generic drugs, by prescriptions dispensed, were Hydrocodone/APAP, Amoxicillin, Lisinopril, Hydrochlorothiazide, Atenolol, Furosemide Oral, Alprazolam, Albuterol Aerosol, Levothyroxine, Metformin. (source: Drug Topics, March 20, 2006)

Generic Savings

• In 2004, the average price of a generic prescription drug was $28.71. The average price of a brand name prescription drug was $95.54 (Source: The National Association of Chain Drug Stores, October 2005).
• According to a 1998 study by the Congressional Budget Office, generic drugs save consumers between $8 billion and $10 billion each year.
• Generics accounted for 56% of all prescriptions dispensed in 2005, according to IMS Health data, but less than 13.1% of every dollar spent on prescription drugs. Generics cost, on average, 30% to 80% less than their brand counterparts.

Generics in the Future

• The generic industry is expected to grow by roughly 13% in 2006. (Source: IMS Health)
• Blockbuster products coming off patent are valued at $22 billion in 2006, $27 billion in 2007, and $29 billion in 2008. (Source: Bain & Company)