20 Biggest Publicly Traded Biotech Companies

4. Merck 

Market Cap: $332.05 Billion 

One of Merck’s most significant contributions to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic has been the development of molnupiravir, an investigational oral antiviral medicine. In collaboration with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, Merck conducted the Phase 3 MOVe-OUT trial which showed that molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by approximately 50% for patients with mild or moderate COVID-19. In December 2021, molnupiravir, marketed as Lagevrio, received Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. FDA for the treatment of high-risk adults with mild to moderate COVID-19. In Q1 2024, their worldwide sales reached $15.8 billion, an increase of 9% from Q1 2023.