Published 24 April 2012 

Finnish Pharmaceutical Market

According to statistics collected by Finnish Pharmaceutical Data Ltd, Finnish wholesale of human pharmaceuticals in January–March 2012 totalled EUR 493 (474) million, up by 4% on the comparative period of the previous year.

Finland is the most important individual market for Orion, generating about one-quarter of the total net sales. Orion was able to increase its sales faster than the markets as a whole, so strengthened its position as leader in marketing pharmaceuticals in Finland. According to statistics collected by Finnish Pharmaceutical Data Ltd, Orion’s wholesale of human pharmaceuticals in Finland in January–March amounted to EUR 54 (49) million, up by 10% compared with comparative period of the previous year. Orion’s market share of Finnish pharmaceuticals markets was 11% (10%).

Global markets for Parkinson's drugs

According to IMS Health pharmaceutical sales statistics, in the 12-month period ending in December 2011 the total sales of Parkinson’s drugs in the United States were down by 28% at USD 669 million (USD 922 million in the previous 12-month period). The decrease in in-market sales was due to commencement of generic competition in certain products. The five largest European markets for Parkinson’s disease drugs were Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Italy. In these countries, the combined sales of Parkinson’s drugs in the 12-month period ending in December 2011 totalled EUR 955 (1,043) million, and the average market decline was 8%.

The most important individual therapy area for Orion is still the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Orion’s Parkinson’s drugs account for one-quarter of the Group’s net sales. Sales of Orion’s Parkinson’s drugs in the United States remained stable despite a clear decrease in the market as a whole. In Japan sales continued to grow well and clearly better than the market as a whole. According to IMS Health pharmaceutical sales statistics, in the 12-month period ending in December 2011, sales of Orion’s Parkinson’s drugs in the United States totalled USD 181 (USD 180 million in the previous 12-month period) million. Sales remained stable at a total of EUR 156 (158) million in the five largest markets in Europe, and up by 18% at EUR 56 (47) million in Japan. The market share of Orion’s Parkinson’s drugs was 27% in the United States, on average 16% in the five largest European markets and 11% in Japan.

Markets for Precedex, the sedative agent

According to IMS Health pharmaceutical sales statistics, sales of Orion’s Precedex® intensive care sedative (dexmedetomidine) were up by 33% at USD 206 million in the 12-month period ending in December 2011 (USD 155 million in the previous 12-month period). About four-fifths of the sales amounting to USD 161 (132) million were in the United States, where Precedex sales grew by 22%.