US Rx Drug Sales to Skyrocket During 2006

The new Medicare Part D prescriptiondrug program is expected to triggera sharp increase in the demand forRx medicines during the coming year,researchers at IMS Health predict. USsales of prescription drugs are projectedto grow by between 8% and 9% in2006—an increase almost 50% greaterthan the worldwide rise in demandfor medicines and double the salesgrowth expected for many Europeancountries.

Currently, US sales of prescriptiondrugs total $230 billion, or 43% of theworldwide market for these products.The upsurge in demand next year figuresto push the US share of the globalpharmaceutical market even higher,according to IMS Health.

Mr. Rankin is a freelance medical writer.