Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): This Company’s Biggest Drug Rivals

Prostate cancer pill Zytiga, which has seen excellent growth early in its post-approval life, ran into competition last year after Medivation Inc (NASDAQ:MDVN)‘s rival pill Xtandi received FDA approval. Analysts peg Xtandi’s peak sales at between $1 billion and $2 billion, and while Zytiga’s almost hit the blockbuster mark already, there should be a good battle between these two in the prostate cancer treatment market in the future.

What about Johnson & Johnson’s great new hope — recently approved diabetes drug Invokana? The treatment picked up FDA approval just days ago, but Invokana enters a highly competitive field looking to take advantage of the rapidly growing diabetes market. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)‘s Januvia and Janumet are the big kids on the diabetes block, and the two drugs combined to pull in 14% of Merck’s 2012 pharmaceutical revenue by themselves.

However, Bristol Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:BMY) and AstraZeneca plc (ADR) (NYSE:AZN)‘s diabetes drug Forxiga is a more direct rival to Invokana. The FDA rejected Forxiga last year, but the drug’s chances in the U.S . could be improved after the EU granted approval for Forxiga in November. It’s too early to say how the battle between Forxiga and Invokana will play out, but with the diabetes market continuing to heat up due to rising rates of obesity, there’s no doubt that this will be a prime-time fight.

There are tough competitors across the board for Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)’s best-selling pharmaceuticals. From big pharma’s biggest players such as Pfizer and Merck to small-time biotech companies like Medivation, J&J will have to keep pressing forward in order to stay ahead of its rivals. Fortunately, this company’s size, experience, and power across the entire health care industry make Johnson & Johnson one health care stock you can count on.

The article Johnson & Johnson’s Biggest Drug Rivals originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Dan Carroll has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool owns shares of Johnson & Johnson.

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