Sales of COPD and asthma medications increased at their fastest rate in three years in November as haze engulfed most of the nation and caused respiratory conditions to worsen, especially in the north.
The anti-asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) category saw its best performance since 2022 in November, up 10% year over year, according to Pharmatrac statistics.
Damage to the lungs produces COPD, a progressive illness that restricts airflow and makes breathing difficult. Long-term exposure to irritating smoke, fumes, dust, or chemicals is the most common cause of COPD.
The 9% increase in systemic antihistamines, which are used to treat allergic responses brought on by pollution, further supports the connection between declining air quality and increased drug use.
“Increased consumption across key respiratory treatment categories is now clearly reflecting worsening AQI values,” stated Sheetal Sapale, Pharmarack’s VP of marketing.
Pharmatrac is a market research company that specializes on the pharmaceutical industry in India.
Leading the charge is North India
In the north, where air quality index (AQI) readings frequently exceeded dangerous thresholds, the surge was particularly noticeable. Important respiratory categories witnessed double-digit increase in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.
Sales of systemic antihistamines increased by 27% in the western and central regions of Uttar Pradesh and by 35% in Punjab and Chandigarh.
Rajasthan had a 14% increase in anti-asthma and COPD treatments, while Delhi-Haryana saw a 9% increase, highlighting the clear link between medication sales and haze.
Antihistamine sales increased by 45% year over year in even smaller clusters like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, indicating the growing pollution issue. The air quality in these hill states should be better than in metropolitan areas.
Seasonal patterns become structural
The growing tendencies of emerging hotspots are concerning. Wintertime air pollution is becoming a structural demand driver for respiratory treatment rather than only a seasonal variation, according to Sapale.
Anti-asthma and COPD treatments now make up 61% of the respiratory category, while antihistamines account for 8%, indicating a chronic health crisis associated with pollution. Previously, sales of respiratory drugs peaked during the winter season due to infections, but the most recent data indicates a deeper shift.
“Respiratory portfolios are turning becoming important growth engines. As pollution-related illnesses increase, the sector must prepare for sustainable demand in these areas, according to Sapale.
In November, Cipla, the industry leader in respiratory therapy, had a 7.8% increase in units and a 9.4% increase in value. In November, Foracort, Duolin, and Budecort were among the top ten brands in terms of sales.
