Publisher´ s Letter

ABOVE AND BEYOND

Once again, we are featuring the top 50 pharmaceutical companies, measured by global revenue. The rise of the industry to $1.2T in 2019, was encouraging and exciting and is tempered by what is to come with this pandemic. Much of what we see going on this year has to do with the Covid-19 crisis, the search for a vaccine and attendant therapies for the millions affected.

But what’s happening outside of the Covid-19 realm? Let’s dig down and look at what else

Pfizer, for instance, received 54% of its 2019 revenues from sales of anti-infective products in China, including its antibiotic drug Sulperazon. Its joint venture with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) brings their consumer healthcare businesses together.

Roche has a roster of new medicines, including Ocrevus, Hemlibra, Tecentriq, and Perjeta. Tecentriq in the oncology segment and Actemra/RoActemra and Esbriet in immunology contributed significantly to the company’s revenues.

Novartis’s innovative medicines division contributed 79% of its revenues, with Sandoz accounting for the remaining 21%. It acquired the Japanese business Aspen Global Incorporated, merged with The Medicines Company, and acquired Xiidra dry eye medication from Takeda.

Merck’s 2019 revenues in were primarily driven by its oncology, human health vaccines and animal health divisions, and it has received approval for ERVEBO® (Ebola Zaire Vaccine, Live) for the prevention of disease caused by Zaire ebolavirus, RECARBRIO™ for complicated urinary tract infections and ZERBAXA® for pneumonia

J&J pharmaceutical division revenues grew by 3.6%, driven by the immunology ($13.95B) and oncology ($10.69B) portfolio. GlaxoSmithKline merged its consumer healthcare unit with that of Pfizer, and its 10% yearon-year growth in 2019 revenues was driven by increased sales of Shingrix, a shingles vaccine, respiratory drugs Trelegy and Nucala, and HIV drugs Dovato and Juluca. Sanofi thrives on sales of its insulin drug Lantus®, deep vein thrombosis medication Lovenox®, and antiplatelet medication Plavix®. AbbVie continues to benefit from its flagship rheumatoid arthritis drug Humira, which accounted for 58% of the company’s revenues, plus IMBRU- VICA, MAVYRET, VENCLEXTA, Lupron, and Creon. Takeda’s 2019 revenues grew due to its acquisition of Shire, bringing it presence in the gastrointestinal and neuroscience markets, among others.

All this while many of those companies are also investing in Covid-19 vaccines and therapies. It’s a broad, complex, amazingly active field. We’re proud to be part of it.

And as always, please keep the feedback coming. It all goes to making the magazine better for all of us.

By Cari Kraft