Among the industries that make up the pharmaceutical industry are those that research and develop, manufacture, market, and distribute drugs for human and veterinary use, along with traditional herbal products, medical devices, and cosmetics. Here is a list of the world’s best pharmaceutical companies. Pharma companies play a major role in the impressive growth of the industry today.
As the best pharmaceutical companies lead the fight against COVID-19, the global pharmaceutical industry is expected to see positive growth.
1. Johnson & Johnson
According to Johnson & Johnson (J&J), its consumer health business saw revenue growth of 0.3%, led by sales in the US along with acquisitions and divestitures, which contributed 1.6% to sales growth.
Oncology ($10.69bn) and immunology ($13.95bn) drove growth in the pharmaceutical division.
In 2020, J&J expects minimal disruption to its pharmaceutical business, although it is expected to grow above the market.
With the Ad26 vector technology and PER.C6 manufacturing platform, J&J is developing a COVID-19 vaccine.
Johnson & Johnson is one of the best pharmaceutical companies of 2021.
2. F. Hoffmann-La Roche
On our list of the best pharmaceutical companies in the world, F. Hoffmann-La Roche is ranked second. In 1896, the company opened its doors to improve lives. Roche develops innovative medicines and diagnostic tests that benefit millions of patients worldwide.
Roche also spends the most on pharmaceutical research and development and is the world’s largest biotech company with 17 biopharmaceuticals on the market. Roche’s headquarters are in Basel, Switzerland.
3. Pfizer
In terms of revenues, Pfizer recorded a 4% decline with the biopharma segment accounting for 76.2%. China, a major market for the company’s anti-infective products, including Sulperazon, contributed 54% of its revenue.
Together with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the companies formed a joint venture dedicated to consumer healthcare. In the joint venture, Pfizer owns 32% of the equity while GSK owns the rest.
Viatris, the new pharmaceutical company formed by the combination of Upjohn and Mylan, was announced.
Lockdown restrictions and declining inpatient visits hurt Pfizer’s sales in the first quarter of 2020. A COVID-19 vaccine named BNT162 mRNA and an increase in funding for research and development is among the plans for the company. According to the results, phase 2b/3 trials on the vaccine will also commence in July 2020, followed by regulatory approval in the fourth quarter of 2020.
4. Bayer
The business of Bayer focuses on health care and agriculture. A German company established over 150 years ago is also one of the largest companies in the world today.
There are currently 392 Bayer Group companies in 87 countries. The company also generated revenue of 48.770 billion dollars (43,545 million euros) in 2019.
5. Novartis
A Swiss healthcare company, Novartis, is ranked 5th on our list of the world’s best pharmaceutical companies. To address evolving patient needs globally, Novartis also provides solutions.
Furthermore, the company discovers and develops breakthrough treatments and finds new ways to deliver them to as many people as possible. The revenue generated by Novartis was about 47.5 billion dollars in 2019.
6. Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding
Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding (SPH) reported a 17.27% year-over-year revenue increase for 2019. 87.4% of the company’s revenue came from the pharmaceutical services segment, and the rest came from pharmaceutical manufacturing.
During the year, SPH collaborated with several colleges and universities to develop new drugs and therapies. It also signed agreements with two Indian companies, Alembic and Adia, to work together on developing biopharmaceutical products. A Taiwanese company, Lumosa Therapeutics, inked a deal to license in-license the company’s new stroke medicine, LT3001.
7. Roche
Sales of new drugs, like Ocrevus, Hemlibra, Tecentriq, and Perjeta, increased Roche’s pharmaceutical division revenues by 11%. Even with the company’s poor performance in Europe and Japan for biosimilars, Tecentriq, Actemra/RoActemra and Esbriet in immunology contributed significantly to revenues.
In the US, biosimilars such as MabThera/Rituxan, Herceptin, and Avastin caused sales to decline by $1.55bn. Despite broader market penetration in China, the US remained the company’s biggest contributor to sales, followed by Europe and Japan.
8. Merck & Co.
Oncology, human health vaccines, and animal health divisions accounted for 11% of Merck & Co.’s revenues year-over-year. Chinese sales contributed a higher percentage of the company’s revenue than other international sales. Chinese sales rose 47%, led by Keytruda and Gardasil.
In 2018, Merck also received approval for ERVEBO® (Ebola Zaire Vaccine, Live) as a preventive treatment against Zaire ebolavirus disease in people aged 18 or older.
9. Sanofi
Sanofi reported an annual revenue increase of 4.8%, primarily driven by its pharmaceutical division’s Lantus®, LovenoxTM, and PlavixTM products. Global sales for the company during the year were 30.2% based on emerging markets.
Libtayo® was also approved for the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, and Cablivi® was approved for the treatment of acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. In addition to divesting its stake in Regeneron, Sanofi plans to create a standalone consumer healthcare business.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanofi expects its business to grow in 2020. Translate Bio and the company is collaborating to develop an mRNA vaccine. The company is also collaborating with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority on a vaccine.
10. AbbVie
Biosimilars competed against AbbVie’s flagship Rheumatoid Arthritis drug Humira, which accounts for 58% of revenues. Its revenues grew by 2.7% in 2019. About 30% of the company’s revenues came from other flagship products, such as IMBRUVICA, MAVYRET, VENCLEXTA, Lupron, and Creon. A majority of the company’s revenues came from the US market, with the rest coming from international markets.
There were also two new prescription drugs approved in 2012: SKYRIZI for plaque psoriasis and RINVOQ for rheumatoid arthritis. Allergan, a company that specializes in medicine, healthcare, neuroscience, and eye care, announced plans to be acquired by AbbVie.
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