Demand for choleretic drugs¹ on the Russian retail pharmaceutical market demonstrated steady positive dynamics for three consecutive years. Throughout 2022–2025, both monetary and physical consumption volumes in the category grew confidently. In 2025, sales volume in the group reached 28.4 million packages, which is 5.4% higher than in 2024. In monetary terms, the market increased by 15.6% compared to 2024, reaching RUB 20 billion (at retail prices, including VAT).

In Q1 2026, 7.48 million packages of choleretic drugs worth RUB 5.6 billion were sold at retail in our country. At the beginning of the year, demand for this group of drugs showed negative dynamics (-1% in packages) for the first time in several years, while the ruble growth rate in the category compared to January–March 2025 stood at 12.2%. According to the "Retail Audit of Drug Sales in Russia (total sell out)" from the analytical company RNC Pharma, the sales dynamics of choleretic drugs are characterized by pronounced seasonality. Last year, peak demand for choleretic drugs was recorded in March and December, with over 2.6 million packages sold in each of these months, while the lowest sales were observed during the summer period, with an absolute minimum in June, when only about 2 million packages were sold.

The central position in the group is occupied by ursodeoxycholic acid drugs, represented by 19 trademarks. In total, in 2025, they accounted for approximately 75% of the total monetary volume and 43% of the physical volume, while demonstrating faster growth rates — compared to 2024, ruble growth was 17% and package growth was 11%. This significant share is confirmed by the composition of the TOP-10 brands, where seven positions are occupied by UDCA-based drugs.

Absolute leadership in the group is held by Ursosan from the Czech company PRO.MED.CS, accounting for 44.8% of all monetary sales. The other drugs lag noticeably behind the leader in terms of monetary indicators. The German brand Ursofalk from Dr. Falk Pharma, in second place, accounts for only 13.2% in rubles. Third place is retained by the French drug Chophytol (INN artichoke leaf extract) from Mayoly Spindler, with an 8.6% ruble share. The top three brands in the ranking showed positive dynamics. The highest growth rate in the top ten was recorded for the Russian drug Urtsevel (INN ursodeoxycholic acid), manufactured by Velfarm in Kurgan Oblast — annual sales of the brand increased by 92.8% in value and 86.3% in physical terms. Among the top brands, only Cholenzym (-1% in rubles), represented by three manufacturers with Belmedpreparaty as the main one, showed a decline in value sales. Outside the TOP-10, impressive sales growth can be noted for the brand Ursofokus (INN ursodeoxycholic acid) from the domestic company Ecolab, which went on sale in 2024, with spending on it increasing 220-fold over the year.

Table. TOP-10 Brands of Choleretic Drugs (EphMRA groups: A05A, A05C) by Monetary Sales Volume on the Russian Retail Pharmaceutical Market in 2025

[1] Drugs analyzed from groups: A05A — products for the treatment of biliary tract diseases, A05C — combinations of choleretic drugs and lipotropics