Mumbai
Now a days digestive problems are the most causing trouble in mass. For the first time, Gastro-intestinal drugs have shown the highest incremental gain in a year, rising up total sales of Rs 11,276 crore in the 12-months period ended, December 2015. In the process, cardiac drugs touched sales figure of Rs 12,000 crore. In fact, the difference between the cardiac and GI drugs market now stands at a mere Rs 746 crore, data culled from pharma market research firm AIOCD Awacs said.Anti-infective cough and cold medication still tops the chart, with sales totaling of Rs 14,735 crore in the domestic organized retail market. The gastro-intestinal market has been rising at a strong pump up over the last few years, but it is only last year that it showed the highest incremental value backed by strong sales in PPI (proton pump inhibitors) and probiotic categories among the wide-selling drugs. The increase in the use of these drugs, used to treat acid reflux and stomach ulcers, indicate that gastro-related ailments like gastric irritation is on the rise due to an unhealthy lifestyle, experts say. Following the trend, Liv-52 by Himalaya Drug is the ninth largest medicine brand in the country, with sales of Rs 250 crore for the year. Top companies in the Gastro Intestinal therapy include Sun Pharma, Abbott, Alkem Labs and ZydusCadila, which market popular medicines including Probiotic microbes, Pantoprazole, a combination of domeperidone and pantoprazole and Ranitidine.