Page 16 - Drug Discovery and Development: Prospects and Challenges

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years and cost over USD 1 billion (Hughes et al., 2011). Despite its
high cost and high-risk features, the global pharmaceutical market has
experienced tremendous market growth in recent years. As of the end
of 2019, the pharmaceutical market value was recorded at a staggering
USD 1.25 trillion, which saw a significant jump from 2001 when the
market value was only USD 390 billion (Mikulic, 2021). The United
States remains the main player in the global pharmaceutical market,
followed by a group of emerging markets, such as Brazil, India, Russia,
Colombia, and Egypt.
The Johnson & Johnson Company gained the highest revenue in
2020 in which the pharmaceutical division’s revenues increased by 3.6%,
driven by immunology (USD 13.95 billion) and cancer (USD 10.69
billion) products. At the time of this writing, the COVID-19 vaccine is
being developed by Johnson & Johnson using vector technology and it
is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2021 for emergency use
(Figure 4) (Pharmaceutical Technology, 2021). In terms of individual
cancer (USD 10.69 billion) products. At the time of this writing, the COVID-19 vaccine is being
drugs, Humira by Abvvie was the best-selling pharmaceutical drug in
developed by Johnson & Johnson using vector technology and it is scheduled for release in the first
2020 with USD 20.4 billion in sales. Approved in 2002 in the United
quarter of 2021 for emergency use (Figure 4) (Pharmaceutical Technology, 2021). In terms of
States, Humira is a prescription drug that is used to treat rheumatoid
individual drugs, Humira by Abvvie was the best-selling pharmaceutical drug in 2020 with USD 20.4
and psoriatic arthritis through subcutaneous injection. The drug is also
billion in sales. Approved in 2002 in the United States, Humira is a prescription drug that is used to
used to treat autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, ankylosing
treat rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis through subcutaneous injection. The drug is also used to treat
spondylitis, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, uveitis, and others. Besides
autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis,
Humira, the highest selling pharmaceutical products include Eliquis and
uveitis, and others. Besides Humira, the highest selling pharmaceutical products include Eliquis and
Revlimid, which are used to treat multiple chronic conditions or cancer
Revlimid, which are used to treat multiple chronic conditions or cancer (Figure 5) (Pharmaceutical
(Figure 5) (Pharmaceutical Technology, 2021).
Technology, 2021).
Revenue (bn)
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Johnson & Johnson Pfizer Roche Novartis Merck & Co. GlaxoSmithKline Sanofi AbbVie Takeda Shanghai…

Figure 4: Top ten pharmaceutical companies with
the highest revenue in 2020
Figure 4: Top ten pharmaceutical companies with the highest revenue in 2020
Sales in billion U.S dollars
25
20
15
10
5
0
Stelara (Janssen Biotech)
Xarelto (Bayer/J&J)
Humira (Abbvie) Revlimid (BMS) Eylea (Bayer/Regeneron) Opdivo (BMS/Ono Pharm.) Imbruca (Abbvie) Biktarvy (Gilead)
Keytruda (Merck & Co.)
Eliquis (BMS/Pfizer)

Figure 5: The leading pharmaceutical product sales in 2020

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