Brazil pharmaceutical market reaches R$ 279.7 billion

The Brazilian pharmaceutical market reached R$ 279.7 billion in the 12 months ending July 2026, marking a 13.71% increase in revenue compared to the previous period. According to data from Close-Up International, while revenue grew significantly, the volume of units sold saw a more moderate increase of 2.84%, totaling 8.71 billion units.

Prescription medications were the primary driver of this growth, expanding by 17.18% in revenue over the 12-month period. Generic drugs also showed strength, with an 8.38% increase in units sold. In contrast, over-the-counter (OTC) medications saw more contained growth, with a monthly volume decline of 4.09% reported.

In the segment of patented synthetic drugs, sales reached a record R$ 943 million in July, driven in part by the performance of Mounjaro. Analysts from Morgan Stanley noted that despite concerns regarding promotional discounts, sales volumes remained solid, suggesting a healthy outlook for pharmaceutical retailers like RD Saúde and Pague Menos. The retail pharmacy channel grew 9.3% year-over-year in July, with total sales reaching R$ 14.1 billion.