OBJECTIVES: Medication spending on oncology products (L01 ATC group) was steadily increasing during the past decade in Czech Republic. The L01 market exceeded 100 million € in 2005, which represents approximately 6 % of the total Czech pharmaceutical market. This aim of this analysis is evaluation of long-term developments in this segment and focus on the main growth drivers. METHODS: Data covering the time period from 1992 to 2005 were obtained from a database of the Czech Institute for Drug Control. The analysis was performed per ATC subgroups, and identified (based on launched products and their development over time) most important growth drivers. RESULTS: The L01 market grew from 7.4 million € in 1992 to 133 million € in 2005. Over the past five years the L01 market more than doubled (62 mil € to 133 mil €). This increase was driven not only by enhanced consumption but also by increased price per pack (from mean 96€/pack in 2001 to 187€/pack in 2005), reflecting introduction and usage of new costly molecules in cancer therapy. Regarding ATC sub-groups, the major growth is generated by products launched since 1996 (taxanes) and especially after the introduction of protein kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies and other biotechnology products. CONCLUSION: The Czech L01 market shows similar growth rates and trends as in other countries. The dynamics is driven by biotechnology products. These currently in majorities cover advanced metastatic cancer stages but we can expect them to extend indications also to earlier cancer stages. Based on these conclusions we can assume the L01 market to continue its growth also in the near future.