DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/104ece/france_pharmaceuti) has announced the addition of the "France Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Report Q3 2008" report to their offering.

Our France Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Report provides independent forecasts and competitive intelligence on France's pharmaceuticals and healthcare industry.

The French pharmaceutical market is one of the most advanced in the world but has been experiencing solid growth in recent years. The author expects this to continue over the forecast period – despite government efforts at cost containment – which is a testament to the country’s continuing high consumption levels.

Up to 2012, nominal growth should be around the 3.5% per year, comfortably outpacing inflation. France is also the largest drug producer in Western Europe and a hub for R&D research, although both of these attributes are threatened by a growing trend towards outsourcing.

The biggest change this quarter has been the continuing liberalisation of the OTC sector. Regulatory changes are to allow some 200 non-prescription drugs to be sold in front of the counter, despite complaints from pharmacies that this could cause stiff price competition. The authorities are still resisting calls to allow the sales of self-medication products in non-pharmacy outlets such as supermarkets, despite a number of high-profile campaigns.

It is understandable why the government is keen to move as much drug expenditure away from the State as possible. France's social security budget deficit widened in 2007 to EUR9.5bn (US$14.8bn), according to government auditors. In 2006, the deficit was EUR8.7bn (US$13.6bn), and the social security auditors (CCS) have identified a 4.2% increase in pharmaceutical expenditure, which contributed EUR2bn (US$3.1bn) to the overall deficit. In spite of this increase in pharmaceutical spending, there was actually a 28% reduction in the healthcare deficit in 2007, to EUR4.6bn (US$7.2bn), largely owing to health charges and increased tax revenues.

Meanwhile, France remains in third place in our Business Environment Ranking For Western Europe, trailing Switzerland and Germany but ahead of the UK. As the market continues to develop the author would not be surprised if France moved up to second place in coming quarters, as growth by regional terms remains robust.

Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary

France Pharmaceuticals And Healthcare Industry SWOT

France Political SWOT

France Economic SWOT

Pharmaceutical Business Environment Ratings

Risks To Realisation Of Returns

Table: Western Europe Pharmaceutical Business Environment Rankings

France – Market Summary

Regulatory Regime

Intellectual Property Developments

Pricing And Reimbursement Issues

FRANCE REIMBURSEMENT CATEGORIES

Industry Developments

Healthcare Sector

Public Health Issues

Domestic Industry

Foreign Companies

Product Approvals

Research And Development Sector

Biotechnology Sector

Table: New French Taxes On Private-Sector Research Applications

Parallel Trade

Table: First Parallel Imports In France

Clinical Research

Pharmacy Sector

Epidemiology

Wholesale Sector

Generics Sector

Industry Forecast Scenario

Overall Market Forecast

Table: France Drug Market Expenditure Forecast Indicators

Key Factors – Industry

Table: France’s Health Expenditure Indicators, 2005-2012 45

Key Growth Factors – Macroeconomic

Table: France - Macroeconomic Forecasts

Patented Market Forecast

Table: France Patented Drugs Market Forecast Indicators (US$mn unless otherwise stated)

OTC Market Forecast

Table: France OTC Drugs Market Forecast Indicators (US$mn unless otherwise stated)

Generics Market Forecasts

Table: France’s Generics Market Indicators

Export/Import Forecasts

Table: Sectoral Trade Indicators (US$mn)

Other Healthcare Data And Forecasts

Table: Socio-Demographic Indicators

Key Risks To Our Forecasts

Company Profiles

Leading Multinational Manufacturers

Sanofi-Aventis

Pfizer

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)

Novartis

Merck & Co

Major Indigenous Companies

Servier

Ipsen

Our Forecast Modelling

How We Generate Our Pharmaceutical Industry Forecasts

Pharmaceutical Industry

Pharmaceutical Business Environment Ratings Methodology

Ratings Overview

Table: Pharmaceutical Business Environment Indicators

Weighting

Table: Weighting Of Components

Sources

Companies Mentioned:

- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)

- Ipsen

- Merck & Co

- Novartis

- Pfizer

- Sanofi-Aventis

- Servier

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/104ece/france_pharmaceuti

Research and Markets
Laura Wood
Senior Manager
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