Recognized as one of the main advances in public health in Brazil, generic drugs have already saved the country R$ 341 billion. Their importance will be celebrated on May 20, a date dedicated to Generic Drug Day.
Upon reaching 26 years of age,generic drugs recorded a 7.04% growth in sales in 2025,totaling 553 million units sold between January and March — compared to 517 million in the same period in 2024. Currently, these drugs account for more than38.96%of sales in certain categories, especially those aimed at treating chronic diseases such as hypertension and cholesterol, as well as central nervous system disorders such as anxiety disorders.
The data comes from a survey by the Brazilian Association of Generic Drug Manufacturers (PróGenéricos), based on indicators from IQVIA, a global institute specializing in monitoring the pharmaceutical sector.
Tiago de Moraes Vicente, CEO of PróGenéricos, points out that in more than two decades of retail presence, these drugs have earned the trust of doctors and patients.In 2024, sales in the segment reached R$ 20.4 billion, a 13.50% increase over the same period in 2023.
By law, generic drugs must cost 35% less than reference drugs. In practice, however, the average discount reaches 67%. Since the category was created,direct savings to consumers have totaled almost R$ 341 billion.
Growth above market average
In 2024, the pharmaceutical market as a whole—considering all product categories, including generics—showed an increase of 5.71% compared to 2023, with 5.6 billion units sold. In addition, overall revenue grew by 11.39%. With these figures, the performance of generics exceeded the average in both sales volume and revenue.
Tiago Vicente emphasizes that the impact of generics on retail is fundamental to sustaining the industry in Brazil. He highlights the strong presence of these drugs in the therapeutic classes with the highest turnover in pharmacies, such as those focused on the cardiovascular, nervous, metabolic, and skeletal systems, and anti-infective agents. Of the 20 most prescribed drugs in Brazil, 15 are generics.
Significant progress in the treatment of chronic diseases
In 2024, generics achieved a market share of 75.46% in units among drugs for the control of hypertension, registering a growth of 14.74% compared to 2023. In the segment of drugs for cholesterol control, the share reached 52.02%, with a 42.86% increase in sales.
As for mental health treatments, generics achieved market shares of 68.44% among antidepressants and 75.41% among anxiolytics, with respective growth rates of 56.83% and 8.27%. “In addition to a market share significantly higher than the industry average, generics have stood out for the speed with which they are advancing in categories focused on chronic diseases, becoming essential in the routine of thousands of Brazilians,” points out Tiago de Moraes Vicente.
Celebration: Generic Drug Day
The success of generic drugs, available in pharmacies since 2001, is directly linked to Law 9,787 of 1999, which celebrated its 26th anniversary on February 20. This legislation not only introduced the concept of generic drugs in Brazil, but also regulated the category. Since its inception, Brazil began producing these drugs and established the celebration of Generic Drug Dayon May 20.
“The Generic Drugs Law is one of the main milestones in public health in Brazil. We can safely say that generic drugs are the main instrument for access to medicines and one of the most relevant public policies of recent decades,” concludes the president of PróGenéricos.