Despite the current turmoil across economies worldwide, the global pharmaceutical market is predicted to grow by 4.5-5.5 percent in 2009, a similar rate to 2008, according to a forecast by the National Association of Pharmaceutical Representatives.

Still, the industry faces the continuing pressures of a shortfall inemerging drugs to replace those due to go off patent, with a value around $30 billion, posing questions of profitability for the companies affected.
 
How the economic crisis will affect these companies and the industry as a whole is certainly of great concern as the recession deepens. The problems faced by larger companies are to sure to trickle down to those adjoining sectors, including outsourcing. and may significantly reducing R&D funding.
 
2009 certainly promises to be an interesting year for the pharmaceutical industry.