Bayer Grabs Number One Pharma MNC Spot In China From AstraZeneca
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
According to the latest figures on hospital drug usage in China, Bayer HealthCare has snatched the number one pharmaceutical MNC title in Q1 this year from previous reigning firm AstraZeneca. Pfizer retained its third spot while Roche and Sanofi-Aventis clinched the fourth and fifth positions. These five foreign pharmaceutical companies grew over 30 percent each in the quarter, with the top three exceeding 35 percent. The high growth is attributed to two factors: China's continuous improvement of its intellectual property rights protections and market regulations to meet international standards, which speeds up launches of new drugs. Another leading factor is corporate sales forces' rapid expansion and perfection of distribution networks. Analysts observe that the leading firms adopt sales strategies tailored for the local market. (Click here for more - Chinese Language)