LAHORE: Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry reached a historic high of 1.049 trillion rupees ($3.77 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 20.62% growth compared to the same period last year, according to a report by IQVIA.
The industry’s compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past five years stands at 19.09%, driven by strong performance from both national and multinational corporations.
The retail pharmaceutical sector saw significant growth, with national companies (NATs) outpacing multinational corporations (MNCs). NATs accounted for 816.74 billion rupees, growing at 21.07%, while MNCs contributed 232.49 billion rupees, with a 19.04% growth rate. However, unit sales grew only 3.63%, indicating that price increases, rather than higher volume, fueled the expansion.
Top Performers
Eighty-seven corporations surpassed 1 billion rupees in sales, collectively holding 96.52% of the market share. Leading the pack were:
- GETZ, SAMI, and ABBOTT in the 40-billion-rupee-and-above category.
- HILTON, OBS, and HIGH-Q among firms with sales exceeding 10 billion rupees.
Notably, five of the top 10 national corporations grew faster than the NAT average, with HIGHNOON leading at 32.5% growth. Among MNCs, NOVO NORDISK and HALEON posted strong gains at 43.73% and 29.85%, respectively.
New Product Launches
The industry introduced 636 new products in the past year, generating 7.15 billion rupees in sales. Key launches included:
- STREPSILS HERBAL R&B (279.6 million rupees).
- SEMATIDE BFB, a semaglutide-based product (247.3 million rupees).
- DALIMAB by SEARLE, a biosimilar for autoimmune diseases.
A widening gap between value and volume growth suggests reliance on pricing strategies rather than market expansion. The fourth quarter of 2024 was the industry’s strongest ever, with October peaking at 96 billion rupees in sales.
Future Outlook
IQVIA highlighted opportunities in innovative therapies and foreign market expansion, with services like Pharmacy Level Data (PLD) and Field Force Optimization (FFO) aiding strategic decisions.
Pakistan Pharmaceutical Industry Performance (Q1 2025)
| Metric | Value | Growth (YoY) | CAGR (2021–2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Market Value | 1.049 trillion PKR ($3.77B) | +20.62% | +19.09% |
| National Companies | 816.74B PKR | +21.07% | +20.44% |
| Multinationals (MNCs) | 232.49B PKR | +19.04% | +14.88% |
| Unit Sales | 3.77B units | +3.63% | +5.49% |
Top Corporations (Market Share)
| Category | Examples | Market Share |
|---|---|---|
| 40B+ PKR | GETZ, ABBOTT, SAMI | 33.18% |
| 10B+ PKR | HILTON, HIGH-Q, BOSCH | 42.92% |
New Product Launches (MAT Q1 2025)
| Product | Manufacturer | Value (PKR) |
|---|---|---|
| STREPSILS HERBAL R&B | GSK | 279.6M |
| SEMATIDE BFB | NABIOASIM | 247.3M |
| DALIMAB | SEARLE | 227.5M |
Key Trends
- Price-Driven Growth: 60% of industry growth attributed to price hikes (vs. volume).
- Q4 2024 Peak: Highest quarterly sales (96B PKR in October).
Source: IQVIA Pakistan Q1 2025 Report