Pharmaceutical Industry Overview
The top 10 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world are contributing to exponential growth and driving critical innovation for the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry.
How much is the pharmaceutical industry worth? The global pharmaceutical industry was worth $934.8 billion in 2017 and will reach $1170 billion in 2021, growing at 5.8%. Current estimates that global pharma spending will exceed USD 1.5 trillion by 2023. This fact sheet is to breakdown the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world by revenue as of 2020 that are the key drivers of this stellar growth. Ultimately the goal is to assist business professionals, investors, and our readers that are interested in gaining insights into the global pharmaceutical industry including:
- Discover who are the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world by revenue in 2020?
- A complete ranking and breakdown of the 30 most innovative and biggest biotech companies.
- How much is the pharmaceutical industry worth?
- Pharmaceutical industry trends and stats you should know.
- Which countries buy & sell the most pharmaceutical products in the world?
BizVibe is already helping the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world connect. Connect and track the latest news and insights from these companies.
Pharmaceutical Industry Stats, Trends, Imports and Exports
- Global pharma spending will exceed USD 1.5 trillion by 2023.
- The U.S. pharmaceutical market is the world’s most important national market.
- The United States accounts for over 45 percent of the global pharmaceutical market.
- The healthcare technology industry has a profit margin of 21% — making it the most profitable major industry in the world.
- Gilead Sciences has a profit margin of nearly 53%
- Over 7,000 drugs are currently in development around the world.
- Less than 12% of drugs that make it to clinical trials ultimately win regulatory approval.
- The USA is the world’s biggest importer of pharmaceuticals, importing USD 99.7 billion worth of pharmaceutical products.
Top 10 Largest Pharmaceutical Companies in the World by Revenue 2020
Who are the top pharmaceutical companies in the world by revenue as of 2020? The following is a list of largest pharmaceutical companies ranked by their revenue figures in USD billion.
Rank |
Company |
Revenue (USD billions) |
Country |
| 1 | Johnson & Johnson | 82.06 | USA |
| 2 | Hoffmann-La Roche | 63.85 | Switzerland |
| 3 | Pfizer | 51.75 | USA |
| 4 | Bayer | 48.02 | Germany |
| 5 | Novartis | 47.45 | Switzerland |
| 6 | Merck & Co. | 46.84 | USA |
| 7 | GlaxoSmithKline | 43.92 | United Kingdom |
| 8 | Sanofi | 39.28 | France |
| 9 | AbbVie | 33.27 | USA |
| 10 | Abbott Laboratories | 31.9 | USA |
1. Johnson & Johnson
Who is the largest pharmaceutical company in the world by revenue in 2020? Johnson & Johnson is the largest pharmaceutical company in the world in 2020, with revenues of USD 82.06 billion — the number ranking pharma company by sales. Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational corporation founded in 1886 that develops medical devices, pharmaceuticals and also consumer packaged goods. Johnson & Johnson’s current headquarters are in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, and the company operates over 250 subsidiaries in over 60 countries.
Some of the most popular consumer products and brands under Johnson & Johnson are Tylenol, Band-Aid, Neutrogena, Johnson’s baby products, etc. Johnson & Johnson’s specialty is in research and development, medical device products, and the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products and the consumer level. Johnson & Johnson has held it’s number 1 ranking in sales among the top biotech companies since 2012.
- Founded: 1886
- Johnson & Johnson Headquarters: New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
- Johnson & Johnson Revenue: USD 06 billion
- Johnson & Johnson Number of Employees: 132,200
Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Products and Brands
- Immunology products
- Cardiovascular & metabolic disease products
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Ibuprofen
- Abciximab
- Band-Aid
- Dapoxetine
- Galantamine
- Sinutab
2. Hoffmann-La Roche
Number 2 on this list of the top 10 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world is Hoffmann-La Roche, a Swiss multinational healthcare company that operates worldwide under two divisions: Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. The company is known for controlling many of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies including American biotechnology company Genentech, Japanese biotechnology company Chugai Pharmaceuticals, as well as US-based Ventana.
Roche was founded in 1896 with its current headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. Roche brought in revenues of USD 63.85 billion last year and remains one of the largest pharmaceutical companies by revenue in the world ranking 2nd behind Johnson & Johnson for 3 years in a row.
- Founded: 1896
- Hoffmann-La Roche Headquarters: Basel, Switzerland
- Hoffmann-La Roche Revenue: USD 63.85 billion
- Hoffmann-La Roche Number of Employees: 94,442
Hoffmann-La Roche’s Pharmaceutical Products and Brands
- Avastin (bevacizumab), for certain malignant tumors.
- Bactrim (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole), a sulphonamide antibacterial.
- Fuzeon (enfuvirtide), for salvage therapy of HIV-1 infection.
- Gazyva (obinutuzumab), for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
- Hemlibra (emicizumab), for haemophilia A.
- Neupogen (filgrastim), for neutropenia.
- Nutropin (somatropin), for growth hormone deficiency.
- Viracept (nelfinavir), for HIV-1 infection, licensed by Pfizer and ViiV Healthcare.
- Xeloda (capecitabine), for breast and colorectal cancer.
- Xenical (orlistat), for obesity.
- Xolair (omalizumab), for asthma.
- Zenapax (daclizumab), for the prevention of acute transplant rejection.
3. Pfizer
Pfizer is 3rd on this list of the top pharmaceutical companies by revenue in 2020. An American multinational pharmaceutical corporation headquartered in New York City, Pfizer develops and produces medicines and vaccines for a wide range of medical disciplines, including immunology, oncology, cardiology, endocrinology, and neurology.
In 2019, Pfizer brought in annual revenues of USD 51.75 billion and has been the 3rd ranked pharmaceutical company by revenue for the past 4 years, behind only Roche and Johnson & Johnson. The company operates through two divisions: Pfizer Innovative Health (IH) and Pfizer Essential Health (EH) business segments.
- Founded: 1949
- Pfizer Headquarters: New York City, New York, USA
- Pfizer Revenue: USD 51.75 billion
- Pfizer Number of Employees: 88,300
Pfizer Pharmaceutical Products and Brands
- Atorvastatin (trade name Lipitor)
- Diflucan (fluconazole)
- Flagyl (metronidazole)
- Norvasc (amlodipine)
- Zithromax (azithromycin)
- Zoloft (sertraline)
4. Bayer
Bayer ranks 4th on BizVibe’s list of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world by revenue in 2020. The German multinational pharmaceutical and life sciences company is a developer and manufacturer of human and veterinary pharmaceuticals; consumer healthcare products; agricultural chemicals, seeds, and biotechnology products. In 2019, Bayer brought in revenues of USD 48.02 billion and remains the largest pharmaceutical company in Germany.
- Founded: 1863
- Bayer Headquarters: Leverkusen, Germany
- Bayer Revenue: USD 48.02 billion
- Byer Number of Employees: 110,838
Bayer Pharmaceutical Products and Brands
- Veterinary drugs
- Diagnostic imaging
- General and specialty medicines
- Women’s health products
- Over-the-counter drugs
- Diabetes care
- Pesticides
- Seeds
- Plant biotechnology
5. Novartis
The 2nd Swiss company on this list of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world by revenue is Novartis, the Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland. Novartis is known for manufacturing many well-known 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 many others. Diovan, to treat hypertension and Gleevec/Glivec, the oncology leukemia drug are both Novartis’ best sellers in the global market, accounting for a good chunk of its pharmaceutical sales.
In addition to its stellar sales figures, Novartis is also one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world ranked by market capitalization.
- Founded: 1996
- Novartis Headquarters: Basel, Switzerland
- Novartis Revenue: USD 47.45 billion
- Novartis Number of Employees: 125,161
Novartis Pharmaceutical Products and Brands
- Clozapine (Clozaril)
- Diclofenac (Voltaren)
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
- Valsartan (Diovan)
- Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec/Glivec)
- Cyclosporine (Neoral/Sandimmune)
- Letrozole (Femara)
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
- Terbinafine (Lamisil)
- Deferasirox (Exjade)
6. Merck & Co.
Merck & Co. ranks 6th on BizVibe’s list of the top 10 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world in 2020. Merck & Co. is a leading American multinational pharmaceutical company and one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world headquartered in Kenilworth, New Jersey. The company is known for providing prescription medicines, vaccines, biologics and animal health products. Merck & Co. also spends considerably on R&D for its key drug KEYTRUDA®.
- Founded: 1891
- Merck & Co. Headquarters: Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
- Merck & Co. Revenue: USD 46.84 billion
- Merck & Co. Number of Employees: 69,000
Merck & Co. Pharmaceutical Products and Brands
- Gardasil
- Singulair
- Propecia/Proscar
- Zocor Vioxx Fosamax Keytruda Januvia Primaxin
7. GlaxoSmithKline
Ranking 7th on BizVibe’s list of largest pharmaceutical companies by revenue is GlaxoSmithKline, a British multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Brentford, London that was founded in 2000 stemming from a merger between Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham. The company — often referred to as GSK — brought in revenues of USD 43.92 billion last year and remains one of the most innovative among the top pharmaceutical companies in the world.
- Founded: 2000
- GlaxoSmithKline Headquarters: Brentford, United Kingdom
- GlaxoSmithKline Revenue: USD 43.92 billion
- GlaxoSmithKline Number of Employees: 99,437
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Products and Brands
- Pharmaceuticals
- Vaccines
- Oral healthcare
- Nutritional products
- Over-the-counter medicines
8. Sanofi
8th on BizVibe’s list of the top pharmaceutical companies in the world by revenue is Sanofi, the French multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Paris, France. Sanofi is especially well-know for engaging in R&D, manufacturing pharmaceutical drugs principally in the prescription market, and the development of over-the-counter medication.
In 2019, Sanofi brought in annual revenues of USD 39.28 billion, making it the largest pharmaceutical company in France and one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world by market capitalization as well.
- Founded: 1973
- Sanofi Headquarters: Paris, France
- Sanofi Revenue: USD 39.28 billion
- Sanofi Number of Employees: 104,226
Sanofi Pharmaceutical Products and Brands
- Prescription and over-the-counter drugs for thrombosis
- Cardiovascular disease drugs
- Diabetes drugs
- Central nervous system disorder drugs
- Oncology drugs
- Internal medicine
- Vaccines
9. AbbVie
AbbVie is a US-based publicly-traded biopharmaceutical company founded in 2013 in Lake Bluff, Illinois, USA. The company generated revenues of USD 33.27 billion in 2019 and is known for R&D and developing and manufacturer some of the top pharmaceutical products including AndroGel® (testosterone gel), Depakote® (divalproex sodium) tablets, DUOPA (carbidopa/levodopa enteral suspension), and many more.
- Founded: 2013
- AbbVie Headquarters: Lake Bluff, Illinois, United States
- AbbVie Revenue: USD 33.27 billion
- AbbVie Number of Employees: 30,000
AbbVie Pharmaceutical Products and Brands
- AndroGel® (testosterone gel)
- CREON® (pancrelipase) Delayed-Release Capsules
- GENGRAF® Capsules (cyclosporine capsules, USP)
- GENGRAF® Oral Solution (cyclosporine oral solution, USP)
- MAVYRET™ (glecaprevir/pibrentasvir)
- NIASPAN® (niacin extended-release tablets) [film-coated]
- NIMBEX® (cisatracurium besylate)
10. Abbott Laboratories
Rounding out BizVibe’s list of the top 10 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world in 2020 is the American medical devices and health care company with headquarters in the Abbott Park Business Center in Lake Bluff, Illinois. Abbot Laboratories sells medical devices, diagnostics, branded generic medicines, and nutritional products. In 2019, Abbot Laboratories brought in annual revenues of USD 31.9 billion — making one of the highest revenue pharmaceutical companies in the world.
- Founded: 1888
- Abbott Laboratories Headquarters: Abbott Park, Illinois, USA
- Abbott Laboratories Revenue: USD 31.9 billion
- Abbott Laboratories Number of Employees: 107,000
Abbott Laboratories Pharmaceutical Products and Brands
- Branded generic medicines
- Medical devices
- Diagnostic assays
- Nutritionals
This is BizVibe’s list of the top 10 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world in 2020 by revenue. These companies are changing the way businesses are pushing the boundaries in medicine and are leading the pharmaceutical industry to new heights.
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Largest Pharmaceutical Companies in the World by Revenue
The following is BizVibe’s ranking of the top 30 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world by revenue figures as of 2020. All numbers are measured in USD billions.
| Rank | Company | Revenue (USD billions) | Country |
| 1 | Johnson & Johnson | 82.06 | USA |
| 2 | Hoffmann-La Roche | 63.85 | Switzerland |
| 3 | Pfizer | 51.75 | USA |
| 4 | Bayer | 48.02 | Germany |
| 5 | Novartis | 47.45 | Switzerland |
| 6 | Merck & Co. | 46.84 | USA |
| 7 | GlaxoSmithKline | 43.92 | United Kingdom |
| 8 | Sanofi | 39.28 | France |
| 9 | AbbVie | 33.27 | USA |
| 10 | Abbott Laboratories | 31.9 | USA |
| 11 | Bristol-Myers Squibb | 26.15 | USA |
| 12 | Thermo Fisher Scientific | 25.54 | USA |
| 13 | AstraZeneca | 24.38 | UK |
| 14 | Amgen | 23.4 | USA |
| 15 | Takeda Pharmaceutical | 22.94 | Japan |
| 16 | Gilead Sciences | 22.45 | USA |
| 17 | Eli Lilly & Co | 22.32 | USA |
| 18 | Boehringer Ingelheim | 19.48 | Germany |
| 19 | Novo Nordisk | 18.3 | Denmark |
| 20 | Merck Group | 18.25 | Germany |
| 21 | Teva Pharmaceutical Industries | 16.89 | Israel/USA |
| 22 | Allergan plc | 16.09 | Ireland |
| 23 | Danaher Corporation | 15.07 | USA |
| 24 | Stryker Corporation | 14.9 | USA |
| 25 | Biogen | 14.38 | USA |
| 26 | Mylan | 11.5 | USA |
| 27 | Boston Scientific | 10.65 | USA |
| 28 | Astellas Pharma | 8.98 | Japan |
| 29 | Labcorp | 8.6 | USA |
| 30 | Baxter International | 8.28 | USA |
- 18 of the top 30 biggest pharmaceutical companies are US-based.
- Germany has the 2nd most companies on this list of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world by revenue.
- All companies bring in revenues in the USD billions of figures annually.
World’s Largest Pharmaceutical Exporters
- Germany: $84.7 billion
- Switzerland: $71.7 billion
- United States: $49.7 billion
- Belgium: $45.7 billion
- Ireland: $40 billion
World’s Largest Pharmaceutical Importers
- United States: $99.7 billion
- Germany: $53.7 billion
- Belgium: $36.7 billion
- United Kingdom: $33.8 billion
- Switzerland: $29.3 billion
The Future of the Pharmaceutical Industry
What’s the future of the pharmaceutical; industry? The industry is going through a large phase of product and business innovation. Several big pharma companies are acquiring their drugs by purchasing smaller companies, while a record number of drugs passed regulatory approval last year. Research is moving from labs to computers while sales of pharmaceutical products continue to soar at a rapid rate. Expect the top 10 largest pharmaceutical companies to continue dominating the industry and leading to a future of high profitability and products that are beneficial to all of us.
