Sales of respiratory drugs in India increased by nearly 18 percent in April 2026 compared to the same month last year, significantly outpacing the broader pharmaceutical market growth of just over 10 percent. This surge was driven primarily by a spike in seasonal flu cases and an unexpected rise in demand for asthma medications despite the typically lower incidence during the summer months.

Data from Pharmarack indicated that respiratory drug sales reached approximately ₹1,632 crore in April, up from around ₹1,386 crore year-on-year. Within this category, cough-and-cold medicines saw a 13 percent increase, while nasal preparations experienced an even sharper rise of 31 percent, fueled by the seasonal flu uptick.

More notably, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) drugs recorded a 22 percent increase in sales during April. Such growth is unusual for this period, as respiratory therapies for chronic conditions like asthma generally peak during the colder months.

Experts attribute the rise to a mix of environmental factors affecting respiratory health. Kuldeep Kumar Grover, associate director of pulmonology and critical care at C K Birla Hospital in Gurugram, noted that poor air quality, temperature fluctuations, dust exposure, and elevated pollution levels have contributed to the increased demand. “Even minor environmental changes can aggravate asthma symptoms, including wheezing, cough, and breathlessness,” Grover explained.

This pattern suggests that respiratory health challenges in India are influenced not just by seasonal viral infections but also by environmental stresses that persist beyond winter. The combined impact of these factors appears to be shifting traditional demand patterns for respiratory therapies within the pharmaceutical market.