Multi-vitamin supplement sales drop as Covid cases reduce

Recently, there has been a drop in the number of Covid cases across the country, this has been reflected in the sales of multi-vitamin supplements that were once widely sold. A report by TOI says that sales of Zincovit, A to Z and Becosules have fallen since the number of cases declined in May-June.
In comparison to the same period (July-August) last year, purchases have almost halved, a TOI report said, on the basis of data culled by a pharma research firm. Immunity supplements have also seen a fall in sales as they went from being present in 92% of bills in June 2020 to around 49% in August this year.

Last October Zincovit managed to cross the highest selling drug Human Mixtard (insulin). It achieved its highest ever sales in May (Rs 80 crore) which then fell by over 60% in July. experts have said that in a market where anti-diabetic therapies reign, a strong need to strengthen one’s immunity is understood, especially during a pandemic. During May, other supplements like Becosules (Pfizer), A to Z (Alkem) and Shelcal (Torrent) also recorded high sales of Rs 30- 50 crore, according to healthcare service provider IQVIA. Vitamin D plain & combinations, and Vitamin C also witnessed high sales after the resurgence of Covid this year.

Pronto Consult founder Karishma Atul Shah said to TOI, “There was a nearly 58% drop in the purchases of immunity boosters in August as compared to the corresponding period last year. However, there was an increase in antibacterials and derma-related brands. Chronic brands were also purchased, but lower as compared to August last year.”

The pharma retail market has risen by nearly 14% to Rs 1.73 lakh crore (12-year period ended July), on the back of higher sales of acute therapies of anti-infectives and respiratory drugs, and certain chronic medication including anti-diabetics.