The list of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies is based on total 2017 revenue generated exclusively in the pharmaceuticals segment.
20: Biogen
The American biotechnology company specialises in the therapeutic area of neurology. In particular, Biogen focuses on multiple sclerosis, immunology and haematology. With 12.4 billion dollars, the company ranks 20th worldwide.
19: Boehringer Ingelheim
Germany’s second-largest pharmaceutical company is family-run and the only family business on this list. In 2017, Boehringer generated more than one billion dollars each with six medicines in human pharmaceuticals. These include the well-known asthma medicine Spiriva and Pradaxa, which is used for thrombosis prophylaxis. Revenue in 2017: 14.4 billion US dollars.
18: Takeda Pharmaceutical
Takeda is the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and produces for many different therapeutic areas. The most important growth drivers are gastroenterology, oncology and neuroscience. The company merged with Nycomed in 2011. Total revenue for 2017 amounts to 15.2 billion dollars.
17: Allergan
This company, which became famous under its new name Allergan, was known many years ago as Actavis. Allergan is the original manufacturer of Botox. In 2016, the generics business was sold to Teva. Revenue in 2017 amounts to 15.9 billion dollars.
16: Novo Nordisk
The insulin specialist Novo Nordisk, manufacturer of long-acting antidiabetic drugs, is the world’s most ambitious company in this sector. 16th place with 17.1 billion dollars in 2017.
15: Bayer
Bayer, Germany’s largest pharmaceutical company, generated revenue of 19.2 billion in 2017. Well-known, high-revenue products are Xarelto, which is used for thromboses, and Eylea for macular degeneration.
14: Eli Lilly and Co.
The pharmaceutical company was founded in 1876 by the American officer and chemist Eli Lilly. Lilly’s best-known brands are Cialis – the rival of Viagra – and the antidepressant Cymbalta. In 2017, revenue from medicines amounted to 20.0 billion US dollars.
13: Teva
Teva from Israel is the world’s largest generics producer. The generics sector is concerned with manufacturing successful medicines whose patent protection has expired. This generally lowers prices in healthcare. In this way, Teva achieved 22.3 billion US dollars in 2017.
12: Bristol-Myers Squibb
The focus of the New York holding company is on AIDS and thus on fighting HIV. BMS is also on the market with oncology medicines. In 2017, drug sales amounted to 20.8 billion dollars. Half of the revenue was generated with the anticoagulant Eliquis and the cancer medicine Opdivo.
11: AstraZeneca plc
The company’s best-known brand is the cholesterol-lowering medicine Crestor, which is packaged in a factory in Sweden. Total revenue in 2017 amounted to 22.8 billion US dollars. In recent years, AstraZeneca lost a number of important patents and as a result lost more than half of its revenue. Hope comes from new medicines such as the anti-cancer pills Tagrisso and Lynparza, the heart medicine Brilinta and the diabetes drug Farxiga.
10: Amgen
The American biotechnology company made a name for itself with the brand Epogen. The preparation, used to treat anaemia, gained an unfortunate reputation in the world of sport as a doping agent. The best-selling medicines are BLINCYTO (cancer immunotherapy), Prolia (osteoporosis medicine) and Repatha, which is used in the treatment of raised cholesterol levels. Revenue in 2017 was 23.1 billion US dollars.
9: Gilead Sciences
The American biotech company has grown strongly in recent years thanks to its hepatitis C drugs. In particular, the increased price competition for expensive medicines in the industry has hit the manufacturer of the “1,000-dollar pill” Sovaldi hard. In 2017, revenue amounts to 26.5 billion dollars. In 2015, Gilead Sciences still reached 6th place on this list.
8: AbbVie Inc.
The American pharmaceutical company AbbVie, which emerged in 2013 from the spin-off from Abbott Laboratories, plans to increase its revenue through numerous collaborations in oncology. AbbVie generated revenue of 28.6 billion US dollars in 2017. Its product portfolio includes Humira. It is currently one of the best-selling medicines in the world, approved for a wide range of indications including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and the inflammatory bowel disease Crohn’s disease.
7: GlaxoSmithKline
The British company is very strong in the manufacture of vaccines. In addition, it has a broad portfolio of medicines developed against depression and lung diseases. In 2017, the holding company achieved 29.3 billion USD.
6: Novartis
With revenue of 33.5 billion dollars, the Swiss company was unable to regain its second position from 2015. Nevertheless, Novartis is in a strong position in cancer treatment. Pharmaceutical sales continue to grow strongly, particularly due to the success of the dermatological drug Cosentyx. Other well-known brands are the painkiller Voltaren and the successful leukaemia medicine Gleevec.
5: Sanofi
The French company was very strong in Central Europe, including Germany, and generated revenue of 34.4 billion US dollars. The best-selling medicines include the diabetes medicine Lantus, Lovenox, an anticoagulant, and Aubagio, the once-a-day pill for treating a particular form of multiple sclerosis. Together they account for 25% of revenue. Sanofi is also the world market leader in vaccine manufacturing.
4: Merck & Co.
The American company specialises in vaccines and women’s health products. Revenue of around 35.9 billion dollars is generated with medicines, including veterinary medicines.
3: Johnson & Johnson
Although the American company is active in both medicine and pharmaceutical production, it is known for its consumer care products such as o.b. tampons and the care brand Bebe. Johnson & Johnson generated 36.8 billion US dollars in revenue in 2017 from medicine sales alone. The pharmaceutical division is growing strongly. Two years ago, the company was still in 7th place.
2: Roche
The company, which has made a name for itself with the flu medicine Tamiflu, among others, is based in Switzerland. Revenue from pharmaceuticals is 44.8 billion US dollars. The company is known for its high investment in fighting cancer.
1: Pfizer
Pfizer was the pure pharmaceutical company with the highest revenue in the world in 2017. As in the previous 2 years, it is unbeaten in 1st place on this list. The company, known worldwide for Viagra, makes only a small part of its revenue of 52.5 billion dollars with this medicine.
Sources: Ernst & Young Report 2018, own research
