Depending on your viewpoint, generic drugs represent either the future of the global pharmaceutical industry or an irritating drain on the revenues of R&D based companies. The sector continues to grow in importance, fuelled by the twin pressures of therapeutically significant products coming off patent and health provider demands for lower prices. Analysts in industry and commerce must have a clear understanding of the threats and opportunities in key markets worldwide.

Generics market reports from Espicom Business Intelligence are produced by a multi-lingual editorial team with over 25 years pharmaceutical market experience. And when that experience is combined with one of the best healthcare market databases around, and informed by direct access to over 1200 companies and organisations worldwide, you have unbeatable, reliable, qualified and enriched market analysis. The Czech Republic is one of the more developed and open markets in the CEE region. This report provides detailed information on the generic drugs market.

The Czech Republic represents one of the more developed and open markets in the CEE region. Locally-produced generic and branded copy products have traditionally dominated the market, and continue to represent the majority of prescribed drug volume. The country has significant production capacity, spearheaded by Zentiva, one of the region's largest pharmaceutical companies. Foreign generic companies have also bought Czech production capacity, notably IVAX and Pliva.

The local generic sector is under pressure, however, from imported branded products. EU membership has brought with it greater patent controls, and rising incomes mean that patients increasingly want newer drugs. Generics now represent less than 20% of the Czech market by value, a similar figure to that in the UK.