Heartburn

Many people are familiar with the unpleasant or even painful feeling of burning and discomfort behind the sternum, which occurs after eating fried, spicy or fatty foods. Heartburn can also be facilitated by stress, alcohol, smoking, overeating, that is, life partners typical of many.

According to 2017 data, from 20% to 40% of the population of developed countries suffer from heartburn. ^[1]

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

If heartburn regularly makes itself felt, it can be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which results from regularly throwing stomach contents into the esophagus and requires timely diagnosis and competent treatment.

According to international studies for 2020, the prevalence of GERD reaches 40% among the adult population in the world, and in Russia it affects from 18% to 46% of the adult population, and the incidence rate is growing. GERD is called a disease of modern civilization or a diagnosis of a "Western lifestyle."

Typical manifestations of GERD:

• frequent heartburn,
• burping and
• difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)

are able to cause serious discomfort to a person, reduce his quality of life.

Also, in some cases, prolonged GERD can lead to complications such as mucosal damage (esophagitis) and cancer (adenocarcinoma) of the esophagus. Therefore, if this symptomatology is observed systematically, it is recommended to consult a specialist.

Heartburn medicines

2025: Sales of antacids up 18.8% to ₽2 billion

During the period January-February 2025, 4.4 million packages of antacid drugs were sold in Russia in the amount of ₽2 billion (in retail prices, including VAT). Compared to the same period in 2024, the volume of sales increased by 9.9%, and in monetary terms - by 18.8%.

The share of Russian manufacturers in the antacid market has been increasing for the third year in a row. If in 2022 domestic companies accounted for only 3.2% of the packages sold and 2.2% of the ruble volume, then by the beginning of 2025 these indicators had grown to 13.6% in physical terms and 9% in monetary terms.

According to the results of January-February 2025, the sales structure of antacid drugs in the retail segment was distributed as follows:

• Phosphalugel (manufacturer - Sanofi) took first place with a share of 28.5% and sales growth of 21% in ruble terms.
• Almagel (manufacturer - Teva) was in second place with a share of 28.2% and sales growth of 12%.
• Rennie (manufacturer - Bayer Healthcare) took third position with a share of about 16% and a 24% increase in sales compared to the same period in 2024.

Among domestic drugs, the most successful was Malvatsid (AVVA), which took 6th place in the overall rating with a share of 2.5% in ruble terms. Cash sales of this drug increased 2.5 times over the year. Other Russian drugs in the top 10 also showed impressive results: the demand for Gasit from the Renewal company increased 4.6 times, and sales of Antareit from Valenta increased 2.4 times.^[2]

2024

Sales growth of heartburn drugs in Russia by 19.1% to ₽10,6 billion

Sales of antacid drugs in the Russian retail market in 2024 reached ₽10,6 billion, an increase of 19.1% compared to 2023. In physical terms, 24 million packages were sold, which is 5.4% more than in the previous period. The corresponding data were published on April 8, 2025.

According to RNC Pharma, a significant market growth in 2024 was provided by domestic manufacturers, while the products of foreign companies lost 1% in physical terms. At the same time, thanks to rising prices, foreign products were able to show a positive ruble dynamics of 15%.^[3]

Valenta Pharm localized the production of a medicinal product for heartburn with a new taste

The production of Antaret with mint taste is completely localized in Russia and is carried out at the facilities of the Valenta Pharm research and production complex in Shchelkovo, which guarantees the availability of the drug to Russian patients. The manufacturer announced this on December 9, 2024. Read more here.

Cancer-causing carcinogens have been found in the popular heartburn drug GSK. The manufacturer admitted this and will pay $2.2 billion

In mid-October 2024, British drugmaker GSK announced that it would pay up to $2.2 billion to settle claims related to the development of cancer after using the now discontinued popular heartburn drug Zantac. Read more here.

Heartburn drug Zantac causes cancer. Sanofi to pay $100M to settle 4,000 claims

Sanofi will pay more than $100 million to settle about 4,000 lawsuits accusing the French drugmaker of failing to warn users that its heartburn drug Zantac could cause cancer.

World Healthy Digestion Day

Every year, at the end of May, World Healthy Digestion Day is celebrated, established in 1958 at the initiative of the World Organization of Gastroenterologists. Its aim is to draw attention to the problems of digestive impairment and to raise public awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of digestive tract diseases. Spend this day with benefits for your health and check if you have problems in this area.

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