The physical sales volume of nootropic drugs (group N06D) on the Russian retail pharmaceutical market has remained virtually unchanged for three consecutive years. Since 2023, Russians have been purchasing around 60 million packages of such drugs annually. At the same time, spending on this drug group has been growing steadily. In 2025, the value sales volume exceeded RUB 20.7 billion (at retail prices, including VAT), which is 12% higher than in 2024. The ruble dynamics are driven exclusively by price increases and consumers switching to more expensive brands. In Q1 2026, 14.7 million packages of nootropic drugs were sold at retail in our country, which is 7% less than in the same period last year. However, spending in the category again increased by 4% compared to Q1 2025, reaching RUB 5.3 billion.

According to the "Retail Audit of Drug Sales in Russia (total sell out)" from the analytical company RNC Pharma, the seasonality of the nootropic market in 2025 was marked by two demand peaks: in March and October, sales reached their maximum, exceeding 5.5 million and 5.3 million packages, respectively. Minimum consumer activity traditionally occurred in the summer, with the absolute annual low recorded in June — about 4.4 million packages.

The group is primarily composed of drugs containing choline alfoscerate and aminophenylbutyric acid. In total, in the first three months of 2026, they accounted for about 48% of the category's total monetary volume. However, in physical terms, glycine-based drugs lead, accounting for about 32% of total physical demand.

In Q1 of this year, sales of 56 brands from 73 manufacturers were recorded in the analyzed group. The absolute leader in value terms remains Phenibut (INN aminophenylbutyric acid). This trademark is represented by 14 companies, with the key volume provided by Usolye-Sibirsky Chemical Pharmaceutical Plant. In total, Phenibut accounts for 17% of all revenue in the segment. The Italian brand Gliatilin (INN choline alfoscerate) from Italpharmaco, in second place, accounts for 12.5% in rubles. Third place is retained by its Russian analogue — Cereton from Sotex, with an 11.1% ruble share. The trademark Glycine, represented by five companies during the reporting period, ranks fifth with a sales share of no more than 7% in rubles. Half of the participants in the top ten brands in Q1 2026 showed a decline in value volume. The most notable decline in the top ten was recorded for the Hungarian drug Cavinton (INN vinpocetine), manufactured by Gedeon Richter. Over the year, sales of the brand decreased by 7% in value and 11% in physical terms, with declining demand observed for all SKUs.

The highest sales growth in monetary terms among the top brands during the reporting period was shown by Picamilon (+29% in rubles) from Pharmstandard. Outside the TOP-10, impressive sales growth can be noted for the brand Fonturacetam from Kanonpharma, which went on sale in 2023, with spending on it increasing 19-fold over the year.

Table. TOP-10 Brands of Nootropic Drugs (EphMRA Group N06D) by Monetary Sales Volume on the Russian Retail Pharmaceutical Market in Q1 2026