Top 10 global pharmaceutical companies by revenue 2021
In 2021, Roche lost its position as world’s leading pharmaceutical company, based on pharmaceutical-only sales. The Swiss company generated some 49 billion U.S. dollars through sales of prescribed and over-the-counter drugs. The leading pharmaceutical company worldwide in 2021 was Pfizer, heavily boosted by its strong Covid-19 vaccine Comirnaty.
A global view on the industry
The total global pharmaceutical market reached some 1.27 trillion U.S. dollars in 2020. North America remains the strongest regional market worldwide, responsible for nearly half of the global market size. The largest national pharmaceutical market is the United States, making up almost half of global medicine spending. Thus, five of the ten largest pharmaceutical companies worldwide were from the United States in 2021. One reason for this is that the U.S. is still the world’s largest hub for life sciences and medical research and knowledge.
The importance of innovation
Pharmaceutical companies are to a very large part – more than in most other industries – driven by the imperative to produce innovative products and to invest in research and development. Once a new drug, for example, is launched, the clock is already ticking towards the loss of patent protection. In particular, companies that depend on a small number of blockbuster drugs, are under threat of heavy revenue loss. Two effects of patent expirations for the pharma industry are high R&D concentration and a growing focus on specialty drugs.
A global view on the industry
The total global pharmaceutical market reached some 1.27 trillion U.S. dollars in 2020. North America remains the strongest regional market worldwide, responsible for nearly half of the global market size. The largest national pharmaceutical market is the United States, making up almost half of global medicine spending. Thus, five of the ten largest pharmaceutical companies worldwide were from the United States in 2021. One reason for this is that the U.S. is still the world’s largest hub for life sciences and medical research and knowledge.
The importance of innovation
Pharmaceutical companies are to a very large part – more than in most other industries – driven by the imperative to produce innovative products and to invest in research and development. Once a new drug, for example, is launched, the clock is already ticking towards the loss of patent protection. In particular, companies that depend on a small number of blockbuster drugs, are under threat of heavy revenue loss. Two effects of patent expirations for the pharma industry are high R&D concentration and a growing focus on specialty drugs.
