III. Calcium channel blockers, angiotensin II receptor blockers and compound preparations are the major varieties on the Chinese market, with compound preparations growing fast

According to data of the PDB of China National Pharmaceutical Industry Information Center, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and compound preparations accounted for more than half of the market shares among the antihypertensive drugs in China in 2015, separately accounting for 35%, 26% and 16%.

Chart 16 Sales proportions of each subcategory of antihypertensive drugs in China in 2015

3.1 Calcium channel blockers

Sales growth of the calcium channel blockers tended to be stable in sample hospitals and slightly declined in 2015, seen from data of PDB.

Chart 17 Sales situation of calcium antagonists in key hospitals in 2011-2015

Sales proportion of the Chinese antihypertensive drug calcium antagonists was 70.1% in hospital terminal according to data of Sinohealth CMH. In hospital terminal, 94.3% calcium antagonists were non-injection preparation, with the accumulative market shares of the top 10 products by sales of 74.9%, showing a high market concentration. The hospital market was dominated by foreign enterprises.

Chart 18  Top 10 by market sales of non-injection calcium antagonists in hospital terminal in 2015

3.2 ARBs

Sales growth of the Chinese ARBs declined year by year and tended to be stable in sample hospitals, according to data of PDB.

Chart 19 Sales situation of ARBs in key hospitals in 2011-2015

Sales proportion of the Chinese antihypertensive drug ARBs was 77% in hospital terminal according to data of Sinohealth CMH. In hospital terminal, ARBs were almost non-injection preparation, with the accumulative market shares of the top 10 products by sales of 63.1%, showing a high market concentration. The hospital market was dominated by foreign enterprises.

Chart 20 Top 10 by market sales of non-injection ARBs in hospital terminal in 2015

3.3 Compound preparations

According to data of PDB, sales growth of the Chinese compound antihypertensive drugs in sample hospitals experienced high growth to the present about 14%, higher than the growth of other antihypertensive drugs and overall industry. The drug combination for hypertension refers to using two or more antihypertensive drugs for antihypertensive treatment, which can coordinate to bring high blood pressure down and reduce adverse reactions of each other. The drug combination is a general trend in human medication, and the compound antihypertensive drugs possess the efficacy of drug combination and convenience of medication. The mechanism of hypertension is not understood completely so far and shall be blocked from multiple perspectives, which is the basis of drug combination.

The Guidelines for the management of hypertension emphasizes adopting sequential therapy for hypertension control, and lists combination therapy as first-line therapy for blood pressure control. In particular, for the elderly with hypertension for years, the combination therapy with over two drugs will become preferred when the blood pressure cannot be controlled with one drug.

Chart 21 Sales situation of compound antihypertensive drugs in key hospitals in 2011-2015

According to data of PDB, the Chinese antihypertensive compound preparation market was mainly occupied by valsartan+ amlodipine, irbesartan+ hydrochlorothiazide, losartan + hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan+ hydrochlorothiazide, accounting for 88% of the overall compound preparation market.

The Chinese antihypertensive compound preparation market was mainly occupied by the four foreign enterprises: Novartis, Sanofi, MSD and Servier, with market shares of 75%, and Chinese enterprises occupied small shares. Compound preparations are also the current focus of applications of Chinese enterprises and will have large room to grow in the future owing to better efficacy and safety. Quality antihypertensive generic drug enterprises are expected to seize more market of original drugs under the new industry policy.

Chart 22 Sales proportions of compound antihypertensive drug varieties in 2015

Chart 23 Sales proportions of compound antihypertensive drug enterprises in 2015

Overall, the calcium channel blockers and ARBs are the leading varieties on Chinese antihypertensive drug market, which is different from the international structure of drug use. The compound preparations are the development trend and will have much room to grow in the future.

Fortune Securities R&D Center

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In-depth report on antihypertensive drugs: "Silent killer" gives rise to a huge market (1)

In-depth report on antihypertensive drugs: "Silent killer" gives rise to a huge market (2)