Curious to know which treatments are among the 15 bestselling most profitable drugs of all time? The pharmaceutical industry has been a topic of interest for investors, market researchers and just about anyone who’s curious enough to find out the dynamics of this ever-expanding and somewhat controversial sector. Market research firm Evaluate Pharma estimates that the global pharmaceutical industry will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3% through 2022, reaching a market worth of over $1.12 trillion.
Sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, weakening immune systems, and impurities in water are resulting in swiftly-increasing health problems and chronic diseases. According to an estimate by the World Health Organization, more than 2 million people die per year mainly because of physical inactivity. As a result, the sales of medicines are skyrocketing worldwide. “Big Pharma”, which consists of companies like Allergan plc Ordinary Shares (NYSE:AGN), Astellas, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE:BMY), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK), Roche and Sanofi SA (ADR) (NYSE:SNY), have been immensely profitable because of rising drug sales.
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President Trump started calling for a cap on drug prices in the country immediately after coming to office. In June, the New York Times reported that President Trump was ready to sign an executive order on drug pricing, but nothing substantial has been done by the new administration yet. Earlier this month, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said that rising drug prices have become a “health concern” and the agency will take action to solve the problem.
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We have seen sudden and somewhat shocking drug price hikes over the last few years in the U.S. In August, UK-based pharmaceutical company Hikma increased the U.S price of its diarrhea treatment by a whopping 430%. In 2015, Martin Shkreli, famously known as the “Pharma Bro,” increased the price of life-saving drug Daraprim by 4,000%, after becoming the CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals. Similarly, famous drugmaker Mylan came under fire after it upped the price of its EpiPen anti-allergy device to $600 from $90.
The state of California might be the first to take practical steps to control drug prices. Governor Jerry Brown is set to sign a bill that will necessitate pharmaceutical companies notifying authorities at least 60 days before increasing the price of drugs. Currently, companies can increase drug prices at will. Earlier this year, Maryland also passed a law which requires healthcare officials to notify the state’s attorney general should the price of a generic drug be raised by 50% or more.
Having these market dynamics in view, let’s find out the 15 bestselling most profitable drugs of all time. This article sorts the drugs based on their total revenue through the end of 2016. Check it out beginning on the next page.
15. Singulair
Singulair is used to treat shortness of breath, or “wheezing”, due to asthma. Singulair is a type of leukotriene inhibitor. Leukotriene is a chemical produced by the body when allergens, such as pollens, are inhaled. These chemicals cause contraction and inflammation of the lungs and muscles around the airways in the body, causing asthma and breathing problems. Singulair’s total revenue since its approval in 1998 is $47.38 billion.
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14. Crestor
Crestor is manufactured and sold by AstraZeneca plc (ADR) (NYSE:AZN). Since its approval in 2003, the drug has brought in revenue of approximately $55.15 billion. Crestor belongs to the group of “Statins”. It is used to treat high LDL cholesterol. The drug also helps to increase the amount of HDL cholesterol, or “good cholesterol” in the body. Crestor is also used for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In the first-quarter of 2017, Crestor revenue fell by 44% amid tough competition.
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13. Lantus
Lantus is a long-acting basal insulin. It is used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Lantus is sold by France-based pharmaceutical giant Sanofi. The drug was approved for sale in 2001 and as of the end of 2016, had generated total revenue of $58.34 billion.
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12. Diovan
Diovan is one of the 15 bestselling most profitable drugs of all time. It is used to treat heart disease, congestive heart failure and high blood pressure. The drug is also given to heart patients to increase their life expectancy. Diovan is made by Novartis AG (ADR) (NYSE:NVS). In the first-half of 2017, Diovan’s revenue declined by 13%, as pressure from generic competitors increased. Diovan’s total revenue as of the end of 2016 is $60.13 billion.
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11. Zyprexa
Zyprexa belongs to a class of drugs known as “atypical antipsychotics”. It is used to treat certain types of mood disorders like schizophrenia, hallucinations and depression. The drug is manufactured and sold by Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE:LLY). In the second-quarter of 2017, Eli Lilly posted a whopping 33% decline in Zyprexa sales. Total revenue from Zyprexa since its approval in 1996 is $60.16 billion.
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10. Nexium
Nexim is tenth on the list of the 15 bestselling most profitable drugs of all time. This drug is a proton pump inhibitor that decreases the amount of acid being produced by the stomach. Nexim is used for the treatment of certain stomach problems like ulcer and heartburn. Nexim is manufactured by AstraZeneca plc (ADR) (NYSE:AZN) and was approved in 2004. Nexim’s total revenue as of the end of 2016 stands at $60.23 billion.
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9. Avastin
Next on our list of the 15 bestselling most profitable drugs of all time is Avastin, whose chemical name is Bevacizumab. This drug is used to treat several types of cancer, mainly colon cancer, renal cancer and lung cancer. Earlier this year, Genentech sued Amgen over a biosimilar of Avastin. As of the end of 2016, Avastin had raked in revenue of $62.32 billion.
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8. Herceptin
Herceptin is used to treat early-stage breast cancer. In June, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) filed two new petitions for the patent of a Herceptin biosimilar. Herceptin was first developed by Genentech in collaboration with UCLA in 1992. The drug was approved in 1999. As of the end of 2016, Herceptin has brought in revenue of $65.21 billion. The drug is currently sold by Roche.
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7. Rituxan
Rituxan is used to treat severe forms of cancer, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The drug stops or slows down the growth of cancer cells in the body. Rituximab was developed by IDEC Pharmaceuticals. Since its launch, the drug has brought in total revenue of about $75.90 billion. Rituximab is currently sold by Biogen Inc (NASDAQ:BIIB) and Genentech under the trade-name Rituxan.
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6. Enbrel
Enbrel is used to treat autoimmune diseases. The drug inhibits the tumor necrosis factor (TNG). The FDA has approved this drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis. Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) acquired the selling rights to Enbrel from Immunex in 2002. Amgen has the right to sell Enbrel in the U.S and Canada, while the drug is sold by Pfizer elsewhere. As of the end of 2016, Enbrel’s total sales were $77.2 billion.
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5. Plavix
Plavix is used to reduce the chances of heart disease and stroke. The drug is normally used with aspirin and is prescribed after the placement of coronary artery stents. Plavix was produced by France-based Sanofi SA (ADR) (NYSE:SNY) and Bristol-Myers Squibb. In the second-quarter of 2017, Sanofi reported a 0.3% decline in Plavix sales. The drug is under pressure amid tough competition from similar products like Brilianta, which is marketed by AstraZeneca, and Xarelto, which is manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. Plavix’s total revenue is over $82.32 billion.
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4. Remicade
Remicade is used to treat autoimmune diseases, like Crohn’s psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis of the spine, ulcerative colitis, and severe skin diseases like chronic plaque psoriasis. The drug was first approved in 1998 and has total revenue of $85.49 billion as of the end of 2016. The drug is sold by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma and Merck. Earlier this year, Janssen Biotech, which is a unit of Johnson & Johnson, filed a lawsuit to block the sale of a Remicade version made by South Korea’s Samsung Bioepis Co Ltd.
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3. Seretide
Seretide is a treatment for chronic asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The drug was launched in 2001 and as of the end of 2016, had generated revenue of $92.52 billion. Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline plc (ADR) (NYSE:GSK) lost its patent for Seretide in 2009 for the U.S market and in 2013 for the EU market. Last year, Mylan filed for regulatory approval for the first generic version of Seretide. GlaxoSmithKline has been grilled by investors for not getting the most out of this immensely profitable drug. The company was pushed to file for a new patent after Mylan’s move.
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2. Humira
Humira is a Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker which is used to treat several forms of Arthritis, a joint disease in which the immune system starts attacking the body. Humira is sold by AbbVie Inc (NYSE:ABBV), which is desperately fighting to extend its patent for the drug, which is set to expire in 2020. Humira’s total revenue through the end of 2016 stands at $95.62 billion. Humira is currently the highest grossing drug in the world, bringing in $16.1 billion in revenue for AbbVie in 2016 alone.
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1. Lipitor
On top of the list of the 15 bestselling most profitable drugs of all time is Lipitor, a blockbuster drug made by Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE). This drug outsells all other drugs, and remains the most profitable medicine of all time. Lipitor is a lipid-lowering agent which depletes LDL cholesterol and raises HDL cholesterol, which is also known as “good cholesterol”. Lipitor belongs to the “Statins” group of drugs. From its launch in 1997 through the end of 2016, Lipitor generated total sales of $148.74 billion. Pfizer lost its Lipitor patent in 2011, after which the revenue from the drug nosedived. Still, Lipitor’s revenue in 2016 came in at $1.8 billion. In the second-quarter of 2017, Lipitor revenue totaled $445 million.
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