Future of parallel drug trade in enlarged Europe.

Pharma Marketletter, December, 2004

When 10 new countries joined the European Union in May, many observers expected to see an abrupt rise in the volume of parallel trade in pharmaceuticals within the region. However, according to a new report written by analyst Milena Izmirlieva for World Markets Research Centre, the increase has not occurred for the time being but the practice of parallel trade in the EU is likely to undergo changes in the next couple of years, she says.

The key findings of this report are that:

- parallel trade in the EU has not increased, despite the addition of 10 new member states perceived to have a lower cost of living and less expensive pharmaceuticals than the 15 original members;

- as a whole, parallel trade in the EU has slowed down, at least partly as a...