Top 20 Best Pharma companies in the world – 2024

 Today in this post I’m going to tell you about “top 20 Best Pharma companies in the world”.

GlobalData recently published its “Top 20 Best Pharma companies in the world” categorized by market capitalization in the first quarter of 2019.

One company to break the top 20 was Takeda Pharmaceutical, which grew to $63.4 billion in the first quarter as the result of its acquisition of Dublin-based Shire.

Together, the top 20 pharma companies reported an aggregated market cap of $2.63 trillion—yes, trillion!—in Q1 2019, an increase of 6.2% compared to $2.47 trillion on December 31, 2018.

Perhaps not surprisingly, most of these companies overlap with the BioSpace Top Life Sciences Employers. Here’s a look.

Top 20 Best Pharma companies in the world [List].

1. Johnson & Johnson. 

2. Roche

3. Pfizer

4. Novartis

5. Merck

6. Eli Lilly

7. Novo Nordisk

8. AbbVie

9. Amgen

10. Sanofi

11. GlaxoSmithKline

12. AstraZeneca

13. Gilead Sciences

14. Bristol-Myers Squibb

15. CSL

16. Takeda Pharmaceuticals

17. Bayer

18. Celgene

19. Merck KGaA

20. Allergan

“Top 20 Best Pharma companies in the world – [Detailed Note]”

1. Johnson & Johnson.

In the blog of “top 20 best pharma companies in the world”, Johnson & Johnson secure the 1st position because of Its revenue.

It’s about $372.2 billion. The company’s market cap grew 7.5% from the previous quarter.

Today, the pharma giant was ordered to pay a Pennsylvania man an $8 billion settlement over claims that he wasn’t warned that his antipsychotic drug, Risperdal, would cause him to develop breasts.

The drug is prescribed to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorders but is also used as a sleeping medication, which is what Nicholas Murray has prescribed it for as a minor.

2. Roche.

Its revenue is about $239.6 billion. An increase of 12.7% from Q4 2018.

On September 30, the company announced positive data from its Phase III IMvigor130 trial of Tecentriq (atezolizumab) plus platinum-based chemotherapy was done and compared to chemotherapy alone for first-line treatment of untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) eligible and ineligible for cisplatin chemotherapy.

It showed a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS).

3. Pfizer. 

Its revenue is about $235.8 billion. A decrease of 6.9% from the previous quarter was observed.

On September 27, the company’s executive chairman Ian C. Read announced his retirement was declared on December 31, 2019.

He will be succeeded by Albert Bourla, who replaced Read as chief executive officer on January 1, 2019.

4. Novartis.

Its revenue is about $226.3 billion. An increase of 14% was observed.

On October 9, the company announced that a study of real-world evidence (RWE) confirmed the high efficacy and long-term response of Cosentyx (secukinumab) in a variety of immune disorders, including psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis was seen.

5. Merck. 

Its revenue is about $213.3 billion. An increase of 7.3% was observed. On October 8, Merck partnered with UK-based 4D Pharma to develop three Live Biotherapeutics-based vaccines were done.

6. Eli Lilly.

Its revenue $133.6 billion. An increase of 9.0% was observed from the previous quarter.

On October 7, Lilly announced data from its Phase III RELAY trial of Cyramza (ramucirumab) in previously untreated patients with metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The patients receiving the drug showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to erlotinib alone was seen.

7. Novo Nordisk.

 Its revenue is about $132.1 billion. An increase of 17% was observed. On September 20, the FDA approved the company’s Rybelsus (semaglutide) tablets 7 mg or 14 mg for adults with type 2 diabetes.

It is the first and only glucagon-like peptide-1 analog in a pill.

8. AbbVie. 

Its revenue is about $119.1 billion. A drop of 14.7% was observed from the previous quarter.

In June 2019, AbbVie announced it was buying Dublin-based Allergan for $63 billion was seen.

9. Amgen. 

Its revenue is about $116.8 billion. A decrease of 5.9% was observed in the previous quarter.

On September 27, Amgen announced new data from its ongoing Phase I trial of AMG 510 in patients with previously treated KRAS G12C-mutant solid tumors.

“KRAS is the most frequently mutated oncogene in human tumors,” said David M. Reese, Amgen’s executive vice president of Research and Development.

“Although KRASG12C has been a formidable target for nearly four decades, we can now report responses in patients with non-small cell lung, colorectal, and appendiceal cancers.”

10. Sanofi. 

Its revenue is about $115.7 billion. An increase of 3.9% was observed from the previous quarter.

In mid-September, Sanofi teamed with Abbott to integrate glucose sensing and insulin delivery technologies to help people manage their diabetes.

Top 20 Best Pharma companies in the world.

11. GlaxoSmithKline. 

Its revenue is about $105.7 billion. An increase of 7.2% was observed from the previous quarter.

On October 8, GlaxoSmithKline entered a five-year collaboration pact with Lyell Immunopharma to develop new technologies to improve cell therapies for cancer.

It will apply Lyell’s technology to strengthen GSK’s cell therapy pipeline, including GSK3377794, which targets the NY-ESO-1 antigen seen in a wide variety of cancers.

12. AstraZeneca. 

Its revenue is about $103.7 billion. Increased 4.5% from the fourth quarter of 2018 was seen.

On October 4, the FDA approved the self-administration of the company’s Fasenra (benralizumab) in a pre-filled, single-use auto-injector called the Fasenra Pen for eosinophilic asthma was seen.

It was supported by data from the Phase III GRECO trial and the Phase I AMES trial.

13. Gilead Sciences. (Top 20 Best Pharma companies in the world

Its revenue is about $81.2 billion. Up by 0.3% from the previous quarter was observed.

On October 3, the FDA approved Gilead’s pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) indication for Descovy to prevent HIV.

14. Bristol-Myers Squibb. 

Its revenue is about $78.1 billion. Down 7.9% from the fourth quarter of 2019 was observed.

In April 2019, Bristol-Myers Squibb’s shareholders voted to approve the acquisition of Celgene for approximately $74 billion.

The merger deal has been drawing out, requiring the sale of some of its assets to meet Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requirements for non-competition laws.

This includes Celgene’s Otezla (apremilast) for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Bristol-Myers has a rival TYK2 psoriasis drug in Phase III trials called BMS-986165.

15. CSL. (Top 20 Best Pharma companies in the world)

Its revenue about $65.9 billion. Increased 5.4% from the previous quarter was observed.

On August 7, CSL announced plans to build new laboratories and offices for its global corporate headquarters in Melbourne, Australia was seen.

16. Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

Its revenue is about $53.4. This marks an increase of 141.8% from the previous quarter was seen.

On September 30, Takeda was recognized by Working Mother as one of the 2019 100 Best Companies, chosen for providing inclusive benefits for families including gender-neutral parental bonding leave, flexible work options, leadership development programs, and programs to support caregivers.

17. Bayer. 

Its revenue is about $63.4 billion. This is a drop of 4.9% from the previous quarter was seen.

On October 1, Bayer and Boston-based Arvinas finalized the terms of their joint venture, Oerth Bio, and named John Dombrosky as its chief executive officer.

Perth will focus on targeted protein degradation to improve crop yields were seen.

18. Celgene. 

Its revenue is about $61.4 billion. Increased 37.1% from the fourth quarter of 2018 was observed.

On September 12, Celgene announced topline results from its Phase III QUAZAR AML-001 trial of CC-486 in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia who achieved first complete response (CR) or complete response with incomplete blood count recover (CRi) with induction chemotherapy.

The drug showed a highly statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival compared to placebo.

19. Merck KGaA.

Its revenue is about $52.2 billion. Increased 13% from Q4 2018 was observed. Not to be confused with U.S.-based Merck & Co., Darmstadt, Germany-based Merck KGaA announced on October 7 it had completed the merger of Versum Materials for 5.8 billion euros.

This business combination will make Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading electronic materials company focused on semiconductors and display industries.

20. Allergan. (Top 20 Best Pharma companies in the world)

Its revenue is about $48.7 billion. Increased 8.1% from Q4 2018 to Q1 2019 was observed.

The biggest news since the June announcement that AbbVie was acquiring the company, is an October 7 statement that the company is launching three new over-the-counter REFRESH RELIEVA products for contact lens wearers.