A comparative analysis of registered and imported nootropic drugs in the pharmaceutical market in the Republic of Uzbekistan

Nootropic drugs are widely used to treat cognitive impairments associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and cerebrovascular disorders, including stroke. The growing prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, aging population, and increased neuropsychological stress have led to a sustained rise in demand for nootropic therapy. Under these conditions, assessing the relationship between the drug registration and the actual market availability is essential for evaluating the effectiveness of pharmaceutical supply. Aim. To conduct a comparative analysis of the range of nootropic drugs registered in the State Register of Medicines of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the actual volume of these drugs introduced into the national pharmaceutical market over the period of 2014–2024. Materials and methods. Comparative, systematic, economic, and statistical methods, well as marketing research and content analysis were used in the study. Data were obtained from the State Register of Medicines, Drug Audit reports, and the reference database. The analysis covered the number of registered and marketed trade names, countries of origin, manufacturers, international nonproprietary names, dosage forms, and the physical market volume expressed in packages. Results and discussion. The results showed an almost twofold increase in the number of the registered nootropic drugs during the study period. However, only 40–55 % of the drugs registered actually entered the market, indicating a steady gap between the regulatory approval and commercialization. Since 2021, the share of domestic nootropic drugs has increased significantly, reflecting the strengthening of national pharmaceutical production. Monocomponent drugs continued to dominate the range although the share of multicomponent drugs increased. Injectable solutions accounted for the largest share of both the registered drugs and the market volume, while oral dosage forms showed a gradual growth. Piracetam and Citicoline remain the leading names although recent years have been characterized by increasing diversification towards peptide complexes and combination drugs. Conclusions. The study provides a comprehensive overview of the structure and dynamics of the nootropic drug market in Uzbekistan and can be useful for making evidence-based decisions in pharmaceutical regulation, production planning, and market strategy development.