U.S. drug sales projected to fall nearly 20 percent

 IMS Health in Fairfield, a health care research firm, is predicting a drop in U.S. drug sales to about 30 percent of global sales in 2008, down from a 50 percent share two years ago. Despite strong prescription drug sales in countries like China and Brazil, the loss of patent protection for some drugs may drain $20 million from 2008 sales. U.S. patents for Johnson & Johnson‘s Risperdal and Merck‘s Fosamax are expected to expire, increasing the growth of generic drugs up 15 percent to $70 billion. IMS is forecasting a 5 to 6 percent increase to about $300 billion, in U.S. prescription drug sales next year.