Fierce Pharma Reports Big Pharma Earnings Rankings

By Kevin E. Noonan --

FiercePharma today reported sales rankings for the top 15 pharmaceutical companies in 2018, in comparison to 2017 sales.  As reported today, "the top 15 names are the same against prior year rankings, but the order has shifted."  2018 sales were up for all reported companies except Gilead, AstraZeneca, and Teva, and the change in rankings generally had more to do with competitors' improvements (and increased sales) than reductions in sales 2018 to 2017.  Increases were notable for Bristol Myers-Squibb and Takeda, while Sanofi and Gilead showed reduced sales.  And the report notes that Boehringer Ingelheim’s exclusion from the data was the result of (relatively) late sales reporting (due April 17th).

As reported, "[f]or these rankings and company profiles, FiercePharma consulted company earnings reports, securities filings, earnings transcripts and analyst reports, plus our own archives," while segregating Bayer's plant science unit as being too far removed from human or animal health."

In addition, the report notes that the industry set a record with 59 novel drugs being approved in 2018.  But also included in the report are challenges expected in the industry, including the departure of Scott Gottlieb as head of FDA and calls by politicians on both sides of the aisle, and the Trump administration, for lower drug prices.

The top 15 pharma companies by 2018 revenue:

1. Johnson & Johnson
2. Roche
3. Pfizer
4. Novartis
5. Merck & Co.
6. GlaxoSmithKline
7. Sanofi
8. AbbVie
9. Bayer
10. Eli Lilly
11. Amgen
12. Bristol-Myers Squibb
13. Gilead Sciences
14. AstraZeneca
15. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries