According to Hitwise, the world's leading online competitive Intelligence service, the foreign sites with the highest percentage of their U.S. visitors stemming from this older demographic are Canadian based: Canada Drugs (www.canadadrugs.com) at 53 percent; Med Center Store (www.medcenterstore.com) at 44 percent; and Doctor Solve (www.doctorsolve.com) at 42 percent. (Data period: week ending Sept. 11, 2004)
“The latest online data bolster reports about the growing demand among seniors for lower drug prices”
"The latest online data bolster reports about the growing demand among seniors for lower drug prices," said Bill Tancer, vice president of research, Hitwise. "We've been hearing about seniors obtaining prescriptions via foreign mail-order, as well actually traveling thousands of miles to Canada or Mexico to purchase them. While there is growing controversy around this trend, the latest Hitwise data show that the Internet is increasingly augmenting these more conventional methods."
While seniors are heavily driven to foreign sites, at 37 percent they also are the dominant demographic to visit the entire pharmacy category. The 55+ age bracket is more than twice as likely as all others to visit pharmacy sites. This helps explain why sixteen of the 50 most popular pharmacy sites among all U.S. Internet users are foreign based. Five of those sixteen include: Canada Pharmacy (www.canadapharmacy.com); Mexican Pharmacies Online (www.pmeds.com); MyRxForLess (www.myrxforless.com); Canada Drugs (www.canadadrugs.com); and RxNorth (www.rxnorth.com).
Highlights of the latest Hitwise U.S. Online Pharmacy Report:
(Data period: week ending Sept. 11, 2004 unless noted)
-- Among the top 120 search-engines queries that resulted in traffic to the pharmacy category, 29 (or 24 percent) included terms associated with foreign pharmacies, such as: "canadian pharmacy", "canadian drugs", "mexican pharmacies", "canada mail order drugs" and "canada meds". (Data period: 12 weeks ending Sept. 11, 2004)
-- Females account for 55 percent of visitors to the pharmacy category, while males account for 45 percent.
-- Web users with household incomes over $150,000 are 26 percent less likely to visit pharmacy sites, making them the least likely users of all demographics.
-- Web surfers in the states of Michigan, Delaware, and Pennsylvania are 32 percent, 36 percent and 37 percent, respectively, more likely to visit pharmacy sites. Conversely, Web users in Iowa, Montana and North Dakota are 31 percent, 44 percent and 53 percent, respectively, less likely to visit pharmacy sites.
-- The market share of U.S. visits to pharmacy sites increased 38 percent in August 2004 versus August 2003 (5 percent versus 7 percent of total U.S. visits, respectively).
Top 25 Pharmacy Sites For Seniors
Hitwise U.S. Data
Pharmacy Sites - Ranked By Highest % of Visitors Age 55+
Data Period: Week Ending Sept. 11, 2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Explicit
% Of Foreign
Visitors Country
Rank/Site Domain Age 55+ Affiliation
----------------------------------------------------------------------
AARP Pharmacy
1 Services www.aarppharmacy.com 75.65%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Prescription Solutions
2 Online www.rxsolutions.com 66.43%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
3 DrWkitaker.com www. DrWkitaker.com 65.88%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Medco Health www.medcohealth.com 63.34%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Express Scripts member.express-
5 Members scripts.com 59.55%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
6 CareMark www.caremark.com 59.44%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
7 Medco www.medco.com 58.12%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
www.express-
8 Express-Scripts.com scripts.com 54.36%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
9 Canada Drugs www.canadadrugs.com 52.89% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
10 AdvanceRX.com www.advancerx.com 49.76%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
www.medcenter
11 Med Center Store store.com 43.60% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
12 DoctorSolve www.doctorsolve.com 42.40% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
13 Jan Drugs www.jandrugs.com 41.48% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
www.canada
14 Canada Pharmacy pharmacy.com 40.82% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
15 RxNorth www.rxnorth.com 39.79% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
16 Affordable RX www.affordablerx.com 39.60% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
17 Candrugstore.com www.candrugstore.com 38.89% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
www.medcenter
18 MedCenter Canada canada.com 38.55% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
www.americana
19 AmeriCanaMeds.com meds.com 30.78% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
www.legalmeds
20 legalmedsonline.com online.com 28.39%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
www.drugstores-
21 Drugstores-Online.com online.com 27.81%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
22 RX-MEX.com www.rx-mex.com 25.65% Mexico
----------------------------------------------------------------------
23 Rite Aid www.riteaid.com 24.46%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
24 www.myrxforless.com www.myrxforless.com 23.34% Mexico
----------------------------------------------------------------------
25 drugstore.com www.drugstore.com 23.24%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Top 50 Pharmacy Sites for All U.S. Internet Users
Hitwise U.S. Data
Pharmacy Sites - Ranking By All U.S. Visits
Data Period: August 2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Market
Share Explicit
Within Foreign
Pharmacy Country
Rank/Name Domain Category Affiliation
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Medco Health www.medcohealth.com 15.32%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2 drugstore.com www.drugstore.com 14.46%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
3 Walgreens.com www.walgreens.com 12.65%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Rite Aid www.riteaid.com 8.47%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
5 CVS.com www.cvs.com 6.12%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Express Scripts member.express-
6 Members scripts.com 3.35%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
7 Canada Pharmacy www.canadapharmacy.com 3.00% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
8 Online-Meds.ws www.online-meds.ws 2.93%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
9 Express-Scripts.com www.express-scripts.com 2.57%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CareMark www.caremark.com 2.46%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
11 AdvanceRX.com www.advancerx.com 1.80%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
12 Eckerd.com www.eckerd.com 1.30%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
13 legalmedsonline.com www.legalmedsonline.com 1.28%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mexican Pharmacies
14 Online www.pmeds.com 0.91% Mexico
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ideal www.ideal
15 prescriptions.com prescriptions.com 0.90%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
16 eDrugstore.md www.edrugstore.md 0.84%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
17 www.myrxforless.com www.myrxforless.com 0.72% Mexico
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Frontier www.frontier
18 Pharmacies.com pharmacies.com 0.71%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
19 Canada Drugs www.canadadrugs.com 0.69% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
20 Medco www.medco.com 0.68%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Drugstores- www.drugstores-
21 Online.com online.com 0.68%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
22 RxNorth www.rxnorth.com 0.61% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
23 RX-MEX.com www.rx-mex.com 0.59% Mexico
----------------------------------------------------------------------
24 Pillstore www.pillstore.com 0.56%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
25 Jan Drugs www.jandrugs.com 0.54% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
26 DrugBuyers.com www.drugbuyers.com 0.54%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
27 Candrugstore.com www.candrugstore.com 0.48% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
28 ClickPharmacy www.clickpharmacy.com 0.47%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
29 Affordable RX www.affordablerx.com 0.46% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
30 DoctorSolve www.doctorsolve.com 0.41% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Prescription
31 Solutions Online www.rxsolutions.com 0.41%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
32 www.accessmednet.com www.accessmednet.com 0.40%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
33 AmeriCanaMeds.com www.americanameds.com 0.39% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
AARP Pharmacy
34 Services www.aarppharmacy.com 0.38%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
35 Med Center Store www.medcenterstore.com 0.36% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
36 USAPrescription.com www.usaprescription.com 0.35%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
37 MedCenter Canada www.medcentercanada.com 0.32% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
38 TheHomePharmacy.com www.thehomepharmacy.com 0.32%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
www.diet
39 Diet Prescriptions prescriptions.com 0.30%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
40 AmericaRx.com www.americarx.com 0.29%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign Pharmacies www.foreign-pharmacies-
41 Online online.com 0.29%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
42 DrWkitaker.com www.drwhitaker.com 0.27%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
43 AlbionDrugs.com www.albiondrugs.com 0.26%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
44 KwikMed www.kwikmed.com 0.26%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
45 Rx1 www.rx1.biz 0.26% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Universal www.universal
46 DrugStore.com drugstore.com 0.25% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
47 Web-Drug-Store.com www.web-drug-store.com 0.24%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
48 www.icanrx.com www.icanrx.com 0.24% Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------------
49 RxDrugCard.Com www.rxdrugcard.com 0.24%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Walgreen EasySaver www.rebatestatus.
50 rebate walgreens.com 0.24%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Top Search Terms Leading To Online Pharmacy Visits
Hitwise U.S. Data
Top Ranked Search-Engine Terms Resulting In Visits to the Pharmacy
Site Category
Data Period: 12-Weeks Ending Sept. 11, 2004
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Rank Search Term
---------------------------------------------------------------------
1 canadian pharmacy
---------------------------------------------------------------------
2 canadian drugs
---------------------------------------------------------------------
3 canadian pharmacies
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4 canada pharmacy
---------------------------------------------------------------------
5 canada drugs
---------------------------------------------------------------------
6 mexican pharmacies
---------------------------------------------------------------------
7 canadian prescriptions
---------------------------------------------------------------------
8 "canadian pharmacy"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
9 canada meds
---------------------------------------------------------------------
10 prescription drugs from canada
---------------------------------------------------------------------
11 prescription d r u gs canada
---------------------------------------------------------------------
12 canadian-drugs.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------
13 prescriptions canada
---------------------------------------------------------------------
14 actonel from canada
---------------------------------------------------------------------
15 licensed canadian pharmacy
---------------------------------------------------------------------
16 canadian prescription drugs
---------------------------------------------------------------------
17 drugs from canada
---------------------------------------------------------------------
18 mexican pharmacy
---------------------------------------------------------------------
19 canadian drug stores
---------------------------------------------------------------------
20 canada rx
---------------------------------------------------------------------
21 mexican pharmacy
---------------------------------------------------------------------
22 prescription drugs canada
---------------------------------------------------------------------
23 prices comparison canadian prescription
---------------------------------------------------------------------
24 advair in canada
---------------------------------------------------------------------
25 canada mail order drugs
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Age Breakdown Among Visitors to Online Pharmacies
Hitwise U.S. Data
Pharmacy Sites - Age Demographic Breakout
Data Period: Week Ending Sept. 11, 2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Representation *indexed against
Demographic Traffic share the online population
----------------------------------------------------------------------
18-24 10.02% 57.14
----------------------------------------------------------------------
25-34 16.77% 69.25
----------------------------------------------------------------------
35-44 19.09% 75.73
----------------------------------------------------------------------
45-54 16.68% 97.11
----------------------------------------------------------------------
55+ 37.44% 235.99
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Household Income Among Visitors to Online Pharmacies
Hitwise U.S. Data
Pharmacy Sites - Household Income Demographic Breakout
Data Period: Week Ending Sept. 11, 2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Representation *indexed against
Demographic Traffic share the online population
----------------------------------------------------------------------
less than $30,000 20.91% 99.52
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$30,000 - $59,999 31.25% 104.86
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$60,000 - $99,999 29.23% 102.15
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$100,000 - $149,999 13.14% 99.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
greater than $150,000 5.47% 74.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
*An index score of 100 means that Internet users in a given demographic visited a Web site or site category at the same rate as the total U.S. population. A higher score means indicates a greater representation while a lower score indicates a lower representation of visits versus the total U.S.
Contact:
For media inquiries or to schedule an analyst interview, please contact Max Kalehoff: press@hitwise.com; (646) 489-4629.
About Hitwise:
Hitwise is the world's leading online competitive intelligence service. Each day, Hitwise monitors how more than 25 million Internet users interact with over 500,000 websites across 160 industry categories.
By monitoring more people, more websites, more often, Hitwise provides marketers with timely and actionable marketing insights on how their online presence compares to competitive websites. Companies use this information to maximize the return on their online investment, in efforts such as affiliate programs, search marketing, online advertising, content development and lead generation.
Hitwise collects Internet usage information via a combination of ISP data partnerships and opt-in mega panels, and complies with local and international privacy legislation as audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Founded in 1997, Hitwise is a privately held company, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and operates in the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore.
More information about Hitwise is available at www.hitwise.com.
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