Dramatic changes are shaping today's highly dynamic world pharma markets. New distribution channels, increasing pricing pressures, the maturity of generics, and the development of biotech and specialty therapies are some of the major factors that create the many and complex challenges to successful portfolio and lifecycle management.
Measuring markets is a critical task at both a local and international level and key to ensuring effective decisions around strategy, investment, resources and compensation. The traditional supply, dispensation and reimbursement model is changing, and market sizing resources and techniques need to evolve, to continue to provide, actionable insights across different channel segments.
IMS, in consultation with respected industry organizations, has created a new international standard on market segmentation for the Pharmaceutical market which helps customers identify new marketing opportunities as well as effectively manage portfolios. Market Segmentation is the first of new range of market measurement services made possible by the creation of new international standardization.
Introducing new international standards in Market Segmentation
For the first time, there is real ability to understand and measure the fundamental composition of the pharmaceutical market. At the heart of this initiative lies a unique system developed by IMS to assign more accurate protection expiry dates. The result is a clear, consistent picture, based on highly robust methodology, which measures newly defined segments, and allows for customisation to individual business needs.
Two key new market segments to the way that you view the market:
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The protected market - all products that still benefit from some form of protection from generic competition
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The unprotected market - includes products that were once protected but that protection has now lapsed, plus all generic and other products that have never benefited from protection
Market Segmentation – Key Segments
OTHER PRODUCTS 0.16% NOT SHOWN
Source: MIDAS MAT Q06/06, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, USA. Excludes non Rx-bound ($27.1)
Local Currency $ (billions) Ex-manufacturer prices
Further familiarisation and reference information is available to MIDAS Quantum clients on the Product Support Area of the IMS customer portal.


