Confederation of Indian Industry

Confederation of Indian Industry

Background Note

On

“Pharmaceutical Market in Mexico”

Pharmaceutical Market in Mexico

Mexico, which has over a hundred million inhabitants, is the world's ninth biggest pharmaceutical market and the largest in Latin America, surpassing Brazil for the first time in its history. The sector represents 1.18% of the national GDP, generating US$9,244 million (source Canifarma). The private sector market is valued at US$7,394 million, and the governmental market, through social security, is estimated at US$1,850 million.

Pharmaceutical Industry : Vital Facts
2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004f
Drug Market expenditure (US$bn) / 6.7
6.7 / 7.4 / 8.1 / 8.4 / 8.7
Percaptia drug market expenditure(US$) / 67 / 73 / 79 / 81 / 83
Drug Market expenditure as % of GDP / 1.2 / 1.2 / 1.3 / 1.3 / 1.3
Prescription drug market (US$bn) / 5.4 / 5.9 / 6.5 / 6.7 / 7
OTC market(US$bn) / 1.3 / 1.5 / 1.6 / 1.7 / 1.7
Generic market (US$bn) / 0.07 / 0.07 / 0.08 / 0.08 / 0.09
Generic market as % of total market / 1 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2
Exports (US$mn) / 695 / 770 / 810 / 890 / 980
Imports(US$mn) / 1295 / 1420 / 1590 / 1750 / 1925
Balance(US$mn) / -600 / -650 / -780 / -860 / -945
Health expenditure (%GDP) / 5.4 / 5.4 / 5.4 / 5.5 / 5.5
Health expenditure per captia(US$) / 311 / 317 / 332 / 347 / 352
Source: Latin American Monitor
f: forecast

After years of protectionism during the 80's, the Mexican market has gradually opened up and liberalized. Unlike in Brazil and Argentina, national laboratories have lost ground to the multinational companies that have now become the country's largest manufacturers, with Pfizer and Roche leading the way. The country's manufacturing infrastructure has also become one of the most modern in the world, with many factories FDA approved. Growth potential remains high with a large chunk of the population not yet integrated, increasing life expectancy resulting in the apparition of 'developed countries' pathologies alongside those traditionally found in developing economies, the introduction of modern medical practices and potential for exports.

Industry Structure

The pharmaceutical industry in Mexico is one of the most developed in Latin America, with significant local production of bulk active ingredients and finished

products. This situation is partially due to Mexican health regulations, which practically allow only manufacturers to register and therefore import pharmaceutical products into Mexico. Despite having an established domestic industry, the Mexican market is heavily reliant on imported drugs, especially for raw materials. Market expenditure is equal to around 1.3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as shown in the table adjacent.

The Mexican pharmaceutical industry is highly fragmented with just over 400 companies that produce pharmaceutical products in the country. These include both Mexican and multinational companies, of which 9 percent account for about 80 percent of total pharmaceutical sales in Mexico. The Mexican pharmaceutical market is largely dominated by multinational companies – to the extent of 80 percent of total pharma production in the country. Domestic companies are small and fragmented. Private and public sectors account for 80 percent and 20 percent of the total market in terms of value and vice versa in terms of volume. The prices of public sector are five times lower compared to prices of private sector. This results in a minor share for Mexican pharmaceutical firms in the private sector.

Traditionally, Mexican firms have been focused on the manufacture of generic products, for which patents have expired, targeting the public sector as their main customer. Innovative pharmaceuticals are almost entirely limited to multinational firms that transfer advanced technologies from their parent companies.

Generics Market

Ideally, there should only be two markets: patented and generic. Although the Mexican government took a step forward in 1997 when it created a market for GIs, this market segment is still far from actually working due to economic, political, and social factors. Due to budget pressures, the public health care system is increasingly unable to provide the insured population with medicines and other health care products free of charge.

The Mexican generics drug market has grown at 50% p.a. over the last years. The generic sector accounts for 6% of the Mexican pharmaceutical market, in terms of volume, and around 2% in value. This contrasts with other countries such as Denmark, the U.S., the U.K. and Germany, where the rate of generic substitution is within a 40-60% range.

“Similares”—generics that have not obtained bio-equivalence certification—are the largest drug category sold in Mexico, representing approximately 60% of the market. However, more stringent regulatory requirements, higher pressure for lower healthcare costs, and increasing awareness and acceptance by service providers, doctor and patients are driving forces that favor the growth of the bio-equivalent generics in lieu of similares. With time, similares are expected to be driven out of the market and only two drug categories will prevail: original patented products and generics with proven bio-equivalence. Mexico thereby offers a significant untapped growth potential for generic drugs. The total market for generics is projected at US$2.2 billion or 11 times larger than the current market estimates of US$200 million.

OTC Market

The Mexican OTC market has continued its upward trend in terms of value over the past few years, as a consequence of the rising population, greater tendency for consumers to self-medicate and a steady increase in the prices of OTC products.

Implications According to AFAMELA, the popularity of OTC medicines contributed to 33% of local drug unit sales in the first eleven months of 2004, and roughly 18 % of the market in terms of value. As a result, multinational firms have begun to take notice, and consolidation in the sector is expected to enhance availability.

The OTC market's value is currently estimated at US$1.7 billion, and the sector is expanding as prescription drug prices outpace real earnings growth, and demand increases steadily. During 2003, OTC value sales grew by almost 7% in current value terms, to reach a record high sales figure of 15.4 billion pesos (US$1.39 billion). Per capita consumption of OTC products stood at almost 150 pesos (US$13.53) in 2003, when cough, cold and allergy remedies remained the biggest-selling OTC drugs, with a share of 24.1%. The second-most important line was vitamins and dietary supplements (VDS), with a 22.7% stake. Analgesics and medicated skin care products each also accounted for over 15% of the market's value. Research suggests that the relative size of each sector within the OTC market is due to the degree of information that Mexicans receive about these products. By contrast, eye care, ear care, adult mouth care, calming and sleeping products, which are not so vigorously promoted, each accounted for less than 2.5% of value in 2003.

Major Therapeutic segments

Cardiovascular: Cardiovascular, anti-infectives, respiratory, vitamins, digestives, anti-tuberculosis, anti-malarial, anti-diabetic and analgesics are the leading therapeutic segments in Mexico. The three therapeutic groups of Cardiovascular, CNS and Anti-invectives represent a market of US$2.2 billion per year, based on estimates of the Mexican Ministry of Health. In Mexico, Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most prominent disease. Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of about 25% of deaths in Latin America. Every year, approximately 800,000 cardiovascular deaths occur in the region. In Mexico, total number of CVD deaths are around 0.09 million. Isosorbide dinitrate, Verapamil, Diltiazem, Propranolol, Nitroglycerine; Procainamide, Lidocaine, Enalapril, Nifedipine, Furosemide, Minoxidil, Pravastatin, Simvastatin, Chlorthalidone, Spironolactone are some of the cardiovascular drugs used for treatments in these areas in Mexico.

Mexico is dealing with two trends at the same time: a large young population and an ageing population, hence specialty care products are becoming increasingly important as diseases considered exotic in Mexico 7-8 years ago, are becoming a major source of growth for pharma companies.

Diabetes Market: Mexico could boasts the world's fifth largest diabetes population estimated at 7 million patients; but many are simply not yet diagnosed. Diabetes is growing every day in Mexico, and the Ministry of Health has declared it one of the most important health issues. Diabetes is of major concern in Mexico, specifically with reference to Type 2 diabetes when compared to Type 1. Estimated diabetic patients in Mexico are 4.4 million. Prevalence rate of adult population is estimated to be 14.2%. By the end of 2002, there were about 90,215 cases for Type 2 disease and 1682 cases for Type 1 disease. On an average, everyday 547 new cases are reported. There would be 12 million people living with diabetes by the end of 2005. Type 2 disease is more frequent in Mexico as evident

from the above statistics. Tolbutamide, tolazamide, glimipiride, etformin, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, insulin etc are used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

HIV/AIDS: Another disease of major concern is AIDS with a prevalence rate of 0.3%. Mexico is the second country in Latin America with highest reported cases of HIV. By current estimates, the people infected with HIV are around 116,000 to 177,000. In 2003, Mexico ranked 13th in terms of number of people infected with HIV. Anti-retroviral therapy is the most common therapy for AIDS.

lamivudine/zidovudine (COMBIVIR), zidovudine (AZT), ritonavir, indinavir, didanosine (ddI), lamivudine (3TC), zalcitabine (ddC), stavudine (d4T), nevirapine, saquinavir and efavirenz are the common drugs used for treatment of AIDS in Mexico. These drugs got listed on the Essential drugs list in the country.

Infections: Though incidence of tuberculosis is low in Mexico, such instances are being (18/100,000) recorded due to prevalence of AIDS. Drugs such as isoniazid and rifampicin are most commonly used against tuberculosis. Malaria, typhoid fever and dengue fever are the other infectious diseases that are prominent in Mexico. Chloroquine, proguanil, mefloquine, doxycycline and primaquine are the bulk drugs used in treating malaria. The most preferred antibiotic used against typhoid fever is Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin). Dengue and Meningitis are other most frequent medical cases in Mexico. Anti-pyretics (avoiding NSAIDS and aspirin) are usually used for treatment of dengue.

Major Players

MNCs are leading manufacturers in Mexico. There is no single company in the Mexican pharma market that occupies more than 10 percent in the private sector. Almost 80 percent of the market is covered by 36 companies. Leading local producers include Armstrong Laboratorios, Laboratorios Liomont and Sicor. Most MNCs have subsidiaries in Mexico because of regulations laid down by local health authorities. In order to import and resell pharmaceutical products in Mexico, it is mandatory for any manufacturer to register pharmaceutical products by holding a sanitary license. Leading generic drug manufacturers include Apotex, Eli Lilly, Glaxo, Merck, Novartis, Pharmacia & Upjohn, Roche, Schering Plough and Wyeth etc. Production of innovative products is limited to MNCs. Patentability of chemical molecules was introduced by GoM in late 1980s for a period of 20 years with the possibility of extension till 3 years.

Germany-based Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) initiated commercial operation in Mexico in 1954. Promeco Boehringer Ingelheim was formed from the acquisition of BI and Laboratorios Promeco in 1971. GSK established its subsidiary in Mexico in 1964 and is a leader in producing antibiotics, vaccines and asthma-related products. GSK Mexico holds around 8 percent share in the prescription drug market. The Mexican subsidiary of Bayer, Bayer de Mexico SA de CV is the largest subsidiary of Bayer in the Central American region. Merck Mexico, one of the first companies to produce pharma products in Mexico and was established in 1930. Sanofi-Synthelabo acquired Mexican-based Rudefsa in 1997 to produce immunological products for the Mexican market. BMS Mexico, Eli Lilly Compania de Mexico S.A, Armstrong Laboratorios de Mexico S.A.C.V and Roche Mexico are other MNC subsidiaries in Mexico. Armstrong recently obtained approval to market and distribute modafinil under the brand name Modiodal in Mexico. Mid-size player, Sinbiotic International S.A. C.V. was established in 1990 for the production of analgesics, antibiotics, anticancer and sulphonamide drugs.

In 2003, the Pfizer made sales of US$505 million in Mexico garnering a share near about 10 percent due to the star performance of the drugs like Viagra, Lipitor, Novax, Terramicina and Pentrexil. It also invested US$72 million in its plants for research.

Indian Players

The Indian pharma industry is a reputed bulk drug supplier to this region. Indian drug major, Ranbaxy opened a representative office in Mexico in April 2004 and has plans of establishing a joint venture shortly. Dr.Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd is expected to build a presence here for enhancing branded formulation business. Elder Pharmaceuticals was the first Indian company to get a drug registered in Mexico. India’s leading generics player, Strides Acrolab Limited (Strides) has a manufacturing facility in Mexico.

Wockhardt has signed a joint venture agreement for a 51 percent stake in Wockhardt Mexico S.A. de C.V., with the remaining 49 percent held by Representaciones E Investigaciones Medicas, S.A. de C.V. The joint venture will initially market insulins made by Wockhardt. Later, it will market other dibetology products and biopharmaceutical products.

OTC Market

The overall Mexican pharmaceutical market, estimated at more than US$9 billion, with annual growth rates of 10%, attracts a lot of interest from foreign companies. Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim is the leading company in the Mexican OTC market, ranking top in the VDS and cough, cold and allergy sectors, number two in adult mouth care, and fourth in child-specific OTC and analgesics. It also has a presence in digestive remedies and medicated skin care. Other leading companies include Bayer (Germany), Sanofi-Aventis (France), Novartis (Switzerland) and Wyeth (US), as well as major multinationals from different industries, including Proctor & Gamble (US) and Nestlé (Switzerland). Some Mexican firms manufacture and market their products successfully, but their reach and economies of scale are limited in comparison to those of the multinationals.

Consolidation in the sector is also expected to enhance availability, with the recent purchase by Bayer of Swiss drug-maker Roche's OTC business expected to give the company pole position in the Mexican sector. The acquisition will bring together leading OTC brands such as Alka-Seltzer and Redoxon. Meanwhile, local companies with a strong OTC presence include drug group Techsphere and skincare products specialist Laboratorios Darier, which recently formed an alliance with Germany's Merz Pharmaceuticals. The share of OTC medicines in Mexico's drug market is expected to increase, with the products' low cost and easy availability bringing the segment's value to US$1.9 billion by 2007.