The Indian pharmaceutical market grew 14 per cent in 1998 to Rs 12,923 crore ($3,124 million), up Rs 1,597 crore over the 1997 turnover of Rs 11,326 crore ($2,832 million). The average price per unit of formulation packs rose three per cent to Rs 17.82.

Cephalosporins and combinations, broad spectrum penicillins and fluoroquinolones ranked as the top three therapeutic classes with market shares of 5.6 per cent, 5.2 per cent and 4.5 per cent respectively. The market for cephalosporins grew 29 per cent to Rs 722-crore against Rs 561-crore in 1997. Broad spectrum penicillins registered sales of Rs 668 crore, up three per cent from 1997 sales of Rs 650 crore. The fluoroquinolones market grew 25.4 per cent to Rs 581-crore from Rs 463-crore in 1997.

The study also revealed that the top 10 companies possess an average of 4.8 products with sales of Rs 37.4 crore each. For companies ranking 11-20, it is 2.4 products with average sales of 32.3 crore and 1.6 products for companies ranking 21-30 having sales of Rs 34.7 crore each.

The top three brands in terms of sales were Alembic''s Althrocin (Rs 78 crore), Pfizer''s Becosules (Rs 71 crore) and Alkem Laboratories'' cephalosporin brand Taxim (Rs 66 crore). Engerix B of Smithkline Beecham and Ciprolet and Omez from Dr Reddy''s stable as the top three fastest growing products.

Higher sales were recorded in the second and third quarters, peaking Rs 3,439 crore and Rs 3,503 crore respectively. This compares with Rs 2,597 crore and Rs 3,383 crore recorded in the first and fourth quarters respectively.

The market grew 30 per cent and 16 per cent in the second and fourth quarters of 1998  compared to 1997. Sales rose from Rs 2,636 crore and Rs 2,597 crore to Rs 3,439 and Rs 3,383 respectively.

Growth during the third quarter was 8.7 per cent, with sales increasing from Rs 3,222 crore in 1997 to Rs 3,503 crore in 1998, while the first quarter recorded a measly two per cent increase with sales moving up from Rs 2,547 crore to Rs 2,597 crore.

Brands that performed well for Glaxo were Betnesol (Rs 65.3 crore), Zinetac (Rs 60.1 crore), Septran (Rs 52.3 crore), Ceftum (Rs 50.2 crore) and Phexin (Rs 40.8 crore).

Eight of the top 10 brands in 1998 grew higher than the market rate. The average growth rate with average growth rate of 45 per cent. Engerix B, Corex, Ciplox and Voveran registered high growth rates; one brand recorded growth lower than 10 per cent while the lone brand to witness dip in sales was Althrocin.

Althrocin, the age-old brand of Alembic retained the number one position. However, sales during the review period declined by 14 per cent to Rs 77.8 crore from Rs 90 crore. The brand holds a market share of 0.6 per cent.

Pfizer''s Becosules moved three flights up to the second position recording sales of Rs 71 crore, up by 15 crore (27 per cent) over the 1997 sales of Rs 56 crore. However, the brand is expected to come under pressure this year after the scaling down of its prices by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). Becosules has a market share of 0.55 per cent.

Alkem''s Taxim and Glaxo''s Betnesol are placed neck to neck in third and fourth position with respective sales of Rs 65.6 crore and Rs 65.3 crore. While the Glaxo brand increased its sales by 48 per cent from Rs 48 crore, Taxim managed single digit growth of 8 per cent over its 1997 sales of Rs 61 crore. Both brands hold 0.51 per cent market share.

Pfizer''s cough syrup brand Corex performed exceptionally well despite its high base and secured 0.5 per cent market share. The brand grew by 45 per cent to Rs 64 crore, an increase of Rs 19 crore as compared to 1997 sales of Rs 45 crore.

Ranked 48^th in 1997, Smithkline Beecham''s hepatitis B vaccine brand Engerix B forayed into the 6^th position with a market share of 0.48 per cent. The brand recorded highest growth rate of 145 per cent with sales of Rs 61.9 crore, a jump of 34.9 crore from Rs 27 crore.

Ranbaxy''s Cifran retained its 7^th position vis--vis 1997 with sales of Rs 61.3 crore. The brand, commanding a market share of 0.47 per cent, registered a moderate growth of 15 per cent as compared to Rs 53 crore in 1997.

Glaxo''s ranitidine formulation Zinetac ranked 8^th, up by three places over 1997. The brand registered sales of Rs 60.1 crore, an increase of 29 per cent (14.1 crore) over Rs 46 crore recorded in the previous year. Zinetac''s market share stood at 0.47 per cent.

Cipla''s Ciplox was the second fastest growing product (in percentage terms) in the top 10. The brand grew by 48 per cent (Rs 19.7 crore) registering sales of Rs 59.7 crore. Ciplox, commanding a market share of 0.46 per cent, improved its ranking from 21^st in 1997 to 9^th in 1998.

Novartis'' non-steroidal analgesic brand Voveran stood at 10^th position, recording sales of Rs 58.7 crore. Sales during the review period increased by 41 per cent (Rs 16.7 crore) from Rs 42 crore. Voveran holds 0.45 per cent market share.

Leading therapeutic classes:

Therapeutic classes that performed well during the review period were cephalosporins and combinations, fluoroquinolones, anti-rheumatic non-steriodals, vitamin B complex, and anti-ulcerants.

These five classes grew at an average rate of 27 per cent. The dominance of cephalosporins, penicillins and fluoroquinolones indicate that infectious diseases form the largest market in the Indian sub-continent.

The leading brands in cephalosporins and combinations are Taxim (Rs 65.6 crore), Sporidex (Rs 55.1 crore), Ceftum (Rs 50.2 crore), Phexin (Rs 40.8 crore) and Ceff (Rs 27.9 crore). The top five brands hold 29 per cent of the cephalosporins market.

Broad-spectrum penicillin brands that performed well are Mox (Rs 45.1 crore), Ampoxin (Rs 40.8 crore), Novamox (Rs 38.5 crore), Roscillin (Rs 37.7 crore) and Megapen (Rs 28.5 crore). These brands together hold 28.5 per cent.

The top five fluoroquinolone brands in this class hold 36 per cent of the fluoroquinolone market. These are Cifran (Rs 59.9 crore), Ciplox (Rs 49.1 crore), Ciprobid (Rs 37.1 crore), Norflox (Rs 33.2 crore) and Alcipro (Rs 28.9 crore).

The top five brands among anti-rheumatic non-steroidals were Voveran (Rs 49.3 crore), Brufen (Rs 46.2 crore), Combiflam (Rs 34.2 crore), Nise (Rs 29.2 crore) and Dolonex (Rs 26 crore).

The leading tuberculosis brands were R-Cinex (Rs 49.6 crore), AKT-4 (Rs 16.4 crore), Rimactazid (Rs 16 crore), Ambistryn-S (Rs 15.4 crore) and Combutol (Rs 15 crore). Together they hold 29.6 per cent of the anti-tuberculosis market.

The leading Vitamin B complex brands were Becosules (Rs 71 crore), Polybion (Rs 47.6 crore), Cobadex (Rs 30.8 crore), Zevit (21.6 crore) and Beplex B12 (Rs 17.1 crore). These brands account for 51 per cent.

Zinetac continues to be the leading anti-ulcerant brand with sales of Rs 60 crore. Other leading brands are Omez (Rs 32.9 crore), Aciloc (Rs 25 crore), Ocid (Rs 24.2 crore) and Rantac (Rs 14.4 crore).

The top five products among haematinics, iron and combinations are Dexorange Plus (Rs 56.2 crore), Hepatoglobine (21.8 crore), R B Tone (Rs 16.5 crore), Hepp Forte (Rs 15.3 crore) ad Hemfer (Rs 13.8 crore). The brands account for 39.6 per cent of the haematinics market.

The top five cough sedative brands were Corex (Rs 63.9 crore), Phensedyl (Rs 58.2 crore), Coscopin (Rs 16.6 crore), Zedex (Rs 12.9 crore), and Tosex (Rs 10.1 crore).

The top five non-narcotic analgesic brands are Calpol (Rs 34.8 crore), Fortwin (Rs 25.8 crore), Novalgin (Rs 19.5 crore), Nimulid (Rs 15.1 crore) and Ultragin (Rs 12.5 crore).