Juliette Gagliardi
Junior Researcher
Pharmaceutical market in Italy - Statistics & Facts
Italy is one of the leading pharmaceutical markets worldwide. In 2022, the Southern European country represented the sixth largest pharmaceutical market worldwide. The Italian pharmaceutical industry grew considerably over recent years in terms of production, value added, investments, and trade. Regarding innovation, Italy accounts for over 30 percent of the total number of clinical trials authorized in the European Union.
Important market for global players
The pharmaceutical market is highly globalized, which means that many foreign companies generate a significant part of their revenues in Italy. Hence, it is quite important for national, but also foreign companies to keep track of figures and trends regarding the Italian pharmaceutical market. Among the leading pharmaceutical companies, based on revenues generated on the Italian market, are companies originated from abroad: Pfizer S.r.l.' Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.a., and Sanofi S.r.l. are among those.Prescription and nonprescription drugs
In 2022 the number of medical prescriptions amounted to approximately 564 million in Italy, and the market value of prescription drugs totaled 14.5 billion euros in 2023. The market value of nonprescription drugs was significantly lower, with a value of three billion euros, and “Tachipirina” was the most popular nonprescription and over the counter drug, both in tablets and syrup. The market value of over the counter drugs was the lowest of the above, with a value of 2.3 billion euros in 2023 and the highest revenue generated by sales of gastrointestinal self-medication products.Prices of pharmaceuticals and expenditure
Generally, drug prices tend to decrease when they are off their patent. However, in Italy, the average price of patented pharmaceuticals decreased considerably between 2020 and 2021, from an average price of 18.3 to 14.4 euros, to then increase again in 2022 and reaching a price of almost 18 euros in 2023. Conversely, the average price of the drugs provided by the Italian National Healthcare Service did not fluctuated since 2015 and amounted to almost 9.5 euros in 2023. During the same period, the difference between the public pharmaceutical expenditure and the private one was significant, with the first being more than four million euros higher than the second.
