Pharma industry consultants IMS Health published their annual forecast for 2009, reporting the worldwide market is expected to grow 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent in 2009 with sales surpassing $ 820 billion dollars.

However, the world’s biggest market, the U.S., will likely have a slight 1 to 2 percent rise - generating 2009 sales of some $ 292 billion to $ 302 billion dollars - with the worsening economy, fewer new product launches and fierce generic competition having an impact. Adding to those factors is the deepening economic downturn might cause people to lose health insurance or stop filling costly prescriptions.

Some of the highlights of the IMS Health report:

• Several blockbuster drugs lose patent protection next year, such as Takeda Pharmaceutical Co's Prevacid acid reflux drug and Johnson & Johnson's Topamax for epilepsy
• Only 25 to 30 new drugs will be ready for launching in 2009, according to IMS Health
• The highest number of new drugs includes entries in the diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis arenas. Cancer treatments are also expected to increase 15 percent to 16 percent over 2008 levels (with sales of $48 billion to $ 52 billion dollars).
• Double-digit growth rates are also projected for HIV antiviral medicines and narcotic pain drugs
• The top five European markets - France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Britain - are forecast to grow 3 percent to 4 percent, with sales reaching $ 162 million to $ 172 billion dollars
• Japan’s pharmaceutical market is estimated to grow 4 to 5 percent, reaching $ 84 billion to $ 88 billion dollars
• Emerging markets - China, Brazil, India, South Korea, Mexico, Turkey and Russia – will have a higher rate of growth, forecasts IMS Health: 14 to 15 percent, with sales of $ 105 billion to $ 115 billion dollars, helped by increased government health-care spending