Russia. Russian Pharmaceutical Market in H1 2014

In the first half of 2014, total audited Russian pharmaceutical market reached Rbl. 348 Bln. in trade prices. Market grew by 7% in H1’14 YoY supported by double digit growth rate in retail and hospital segments (Fig 1). Sales by volume were flat mainly due to retail sector improvement of previously observed negative tendency.

Fig 1. Pharma market growth in H1 2014

DLO segment

DLO sales dropped by 7% in H1 of 2014 by value driven by negative dynamic of both sub segments (7 nosology and ONLS). Thus, “7 nosology” part decreased by 3% in the analysed period (H1 2014 vs. H1 2013), while ONLS declined by deeper 11%. DLO size by value accounted for Rbl 54 Bln. in the first 6 months of 2014 including 7 nosology which is 59% of the total sales by value. Roche, Johnson &Johnson and Teva still hold their leading positions in DLO due to securing top positions in 7N segment.

While top 3 leaders among brands (Mabthera, Velcade, Copaxone Teva) remained the same, some products improved their position in the ranking significantly. Rebif 44 won back its share in Multiple sclerosis market and therefore has become the fastest growing product among top 10 brands. Recombinate by Baxter and Coagil VII by Pharmstandart are also experiencing excellent growth in 7N scheme.

Hospital segment

Market participants expressed concerns about transferring the financial burden on the regional level in the beginning of 2014. IMS hospital data for the first half of the year didn’t not indicate any negative impact in the hospital market.

Thus, the procurement of medicines in the hospital segment grew by 10% in Rbl reaching Rbl 58 Bln. in the first half of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. But, it is still unclear how sustainable this growth rate will be in terms of annual result. The leading brands are Natrium chloridum, Kaletra and Clexan, while the top 3 manufacturers are Sanofi, GSK and Roche.

Retail segment

Retail market has returned to the double digit growth in Q2 being driven by Rx products. Growth rate has accelerated from 8% YoY in Q1 to 12% in Q2. Sales growth YoY is impacted by high base effect of the 1st quarter of last year amid a flu epidemic. Totally, retail market increased by 10% in H1 of 2014 having an up amount of Rbl 236 Bln. in trade prices.

OTC grew by only 7% YoY in H1’14 while Rx shows +13% by value. Data for the first six months of 2014 shows that currency devaluation was not transformed into inflation on retail market. Moreover, price increase is at historically low level (Fig 2).

Top 3 corporations rating in the retail market stays the same with Sanofi, followed by Bayer and Servier. The sales volume of the Top 10 companies exceeded Rbl 83 Bln., accounting for 35% of the total retail market by value.

The leading brands in this segment are Essentiale N, Actovegin and Kagocel. Exoderil and Mexidol show significant acceleration compared to the previous year

Fig 2. Retail market growth in H1 2014

Russia’s largest pharmacy chains, 1-2Q 2014

The total share of the 10 major pharmacy chains in the Russian pharmacy market in 1-2 Q 2014 increased by 4 pts compared to previous year and concentrate now made up to 18,62%. The retail market itself registered a 7% growth in the analyzed period. Overall growth of TOP-10 chains is higher than the market, but its driven by certain chains, some are not performing well and will most probably go through restructuring or become M&A target, as it was in the previous year. Observing the situation of increased competition and lack of growth chains are continuing to seek for enlargement of their business by M&A and making marketing unions.

According to the recent news, one of the leading Moscow chains A5 Group and Pharmaimpex, the strong regional player in Volga and Ural regions, created a marketing partnership company (COMPAS).The marketing union is aimed at increasing the number of direct contracts with manufacturers, building a single portfolio of Private Label products and forming a joint marketing policy. Marketing unions (such as Alphega Apteka, UMG, SoyuzPharma) already become a strong tool for negotiations with manufacturers. The other way to sustain the business and protect from high competition on retail market for chains to continue the development of multiformat. To maintain different formats (open format, discounters) will make adjustments basing on profitability of key retail market players. 

Table 1. Market shares of ТОР10 Russia’s pharmacy chains and associations in retail pharmaceutical market, 1-2Q 2014

Cumulative rating of Russian pharmaceutical distributors, Q1-2 2014

For Q1-2 2014 the cumulative share of the TOP 10 distributors on the direct sales market reached 80%. Distributor Protek strengthened its leadership position in the first half of 2014 with 14, 70 MS in direct drug supply, though with loss of market share (-2%).Almost all distributors, national and regional, demonstrated a decline in direct sales. Interregional players, that were the main newsmakers with high growth rates, in this year significantly reduced (Pulse, Farmkomplekt) the rate of growth or even has a negative growth (Oriola).

Such visible decline demonstrated a high demand from the major market players for father logistic optimization, investment in computerization and improving procedures of interaction with drugstores. It is becoming all the more evident that industry is in need of quantum leap to maintain its progress. The ways of future development will be closely tied with the provision of both guaranteed basic services and additional customized services, which would allow cutting distributors costs and provide additional opportunities to improve business technologies.

Table 2. ТОР10 distributors by direct DRUG supply share (including beneficiary drug coverage), Q1-2 2014

Source: IMS Health