This article presents an overview of Top 5 Breakthrough Pharmaceutical Drugs of the Decade. For a detailed overview of the 20 Breakthrough Pharmaceutical Drugs of the Decade with insights into peak sales estimate at the time of approval by FDA, read our article Top 20 Breakthrough Pharmaceutical Drugs of the Decade.
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Opdualag
Peak Sales Estimate at the Time of Approval (USD Billion): 4
Disease: Melanoma
Company: Bristol Myers Squibb
Bristol Myers Squibb’s new LAG-3 antibody relatlimab, approved in a fixed-dose combination with Opdivo for unresectable or metastatic melanoma under the brand name Opdualag, is growing and gathering market share. OPDUALAG is administered through a vein via intravenous infusion, typically by a healthcare professional, once every four weeks. The infusion process for OPDUALAG takes approximately 30 minutes. The effectiveness of OPDUALAG was assessed by monitoring duration during which tumors showed no signs of growth following the treatment, known as progression-free survival (PFS). Opdualag revenues grew nearly threefold to $154 million globally in Q2 2023, compared to $58 million in Q2 2022, the first quarter the drug was on the market.
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Camzyos
Peak Sales Estimate at the Time of Approval (USD Billion): 4.1
Disease: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Company: Bristol Myers Squibb, MyoKardia
BMS’s $13.1 billion acquisition of MyoKardia in 2020 was driven by the orphan drug Camzyos, a novel treatment for HOCM. Camzyos’ $75 million in sales in the first half of 2023 suggest it is poised to be a blockbuster drug in the future. BMS’s multi-faceted strategy, balancing innovation with safety, positions Camzyos as a key game-changer.
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Carvykti
Peak Sales Estimate at the Time of Approval (USD Billion): 5
Disease: Multiple myeloma
Company: Johnson & Johnson, Legend Biotech
Carvykti, a CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma, saw flat sales between Q3 and Q4 2022, generating $55 million each quarter. J&J says sales align with expectations, and it is expanding the network of centers offering the therapy in a phased approach. Despite being a valuable option for hard-to-treat cancers, CAR-T treatments have faced commercial obstacles.
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Spikevax
Peak Sales Estimate at the Time of Approval (USD Billion): 19
Disease: COVID-19
Company: Moderna
Moderna’s revenue for Q2 2023 was $344 million, down from $4.7 billion in the same quarter last year, reflecting a significant drop in COVID-19 medicine Spikevax sales. Despite the decline, Moderna reported a narrower-than-expected loss and revenue that beat consensus estimates. In Q2 2023 earnings call transcript, CCO Arpa Garay said that company also raised its sales forecast for Spikevax to between $6 billion and $8 billion for the year, up from its previous forecast of $5 billion.
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Mounjaro
Peak Sales Estimate at the Time of Approval (USD Billion): 25
Disease: Type 2 Diabetes
Company: Eli Lilly
Mounjaro sales surged 72.3% to $979.7 million in Q2 2023, beating analyst estimates of $743 million. Sales swelled more than 70% since Q1 and most of these sales came from the US. Eli Lilly said significant demand is leading to delays in filling orders.
The high demand shows patients switched from Lilly’s savings program to commercial insurance plans with higher reimbursement rates.
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