Explore the list of pharmaceutical leaders globally by revenue in 2020.

According to the United Nations, the world population is likely to cross 9.7 billion by 2050 and around 21 percent of this population is expected to be aged 60 and above. While the ageing and rising population continue to grow, the increase in purchasing and access to quality healthcare and pharmaceuticals to poor and middle-class families across the world will also surge. This will drive significant growth in the global pharma industry. It is predicted that the industry worldwide will mark US$1.57 trillion by 2023, where North America will lead the market with 45.33 percent, followed by APAC (24.07 percent), Europe (20.24 percent), and Latin America and MEA with 7.53 percent and 2.96 percent, respectively.

Here are the top largest pharmaceutical companies in the world by revenue in 2020.

Johnson & Johnson

Headquarter(s): New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States

Revenue: US$82.06 billion

Johnson & Johnson is the world’s leading pharmaceutical company which was founded in 1886. The company develops medical devices, pharmaceuticals and consumer packaged goods. J&J also engages in the research and development, manufacture, and sale of a wide range of products to the healthcare industry.

Roche

Headquarter(s): Basel, Switzerland

Revenue: US$63.85 billion

Roche AG, a Swiss multinational healthcare company, which operates globally under two divisions, Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. Founded in 1896, the company specializes in medicines for oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism, CNS, clinical chemistry, immunology, urinalysis, blood screening, genetics, infectious diseases, and microbiology. Roche was founded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., a provider of in-vitro diagnostics and drugs for cancer and transplantation.

Pfizer

Headquarter(s): New York, United States

Revenue: US$51.75 billion

Pfizer is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation established in 1849. The company develops and produces medicines and vaccines for a wide array of medical disciplines, including immunology, oncology, cardiology, endocrinology, and neurology. Pfizer strives to provide access to safe, effective and affordable medicines and related health care services to the people who need them, with a leading portfolio of products and medicines.

Novartis

Headquarter(s): Basel, Switzerland

Revenue: US$47.45 billion

Novartis is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company. The company manufactures a various range of drugs including clozapine (Clozaril), diclofenac (Voltaren), carbamazepine (Tegretol), valsartan (Diovan), imatinib mesylate (Gleevec/Glivec), cyclosporine (Neoral/Sandimmune), letrozole (Femara), methylphenidate (Ritalin), terbinafine (Lamisil), deferasirox (Exjade), and others.

GlaxoSmithKline

Headquarter(s): Brentford, United Kingdom

Revenue: US$43.92 billion

Established in 2000, with a merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham, GlaxoSmithKline was the world's sixth-largest pharmaceutical company according to Forbes as of 2019. The company aims to bring distinguished, high-quality healthcare products to as many people as possible, with its three global businesses, scientific and technical know-how, and talented people.

Sanofi

Headquarter(s): Paris, France

Revenue: US$39.28 billion

Founded in 1973 as a subsidiary of Elf Aquitaine, Sanofi is a French multinational pharmaceutical company. The company covers areas such as diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and the new G enzyme. Its products include prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs for thrombosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, central nervous system disorders, oncology and internal medicine, vaccines and other medical products.

AbbVie

Headquarter(s): Illinois, United States

Revenue: US$33.27 billion

AbbVie, a pharmaceutical company, which discovers, develops, and markets both biopharmaceuticals and small molecule drugs. The company targets specific difficult-to-cure diseases where it can leverage its core R&D expertise to advance science. AbbVie’s core pharmaceutical products include AndroGel® (testosterone gel), Depakote® (divalproex sodium) tablets, DUOPA (carbidopa/levodopa enteral suspension), and many more.