Growing Biopharma’s Top Line: Drugs

Keytruda surpassed Humira to become the leading product in 2023. The Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine, which had previously displaced Humira in 2022, experienced a significant decline in sales during 2023. The introduction of biosimilars targeting AbbVie anti-rheumatic in the US in January 2023 contributed to the decline in sales for the year.

Top Selling Drugs in 2023 ($ Million)

KEYTRUDA is a prescribed medication employed in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC), bladder and urinary tract cancer (urothelial carcinoma), and various other types of cancer. Merck reported Keytruda sales of $18 billion in the initial nine months of 2023. Sales for the first half of 2023 amounted to $12.07 billion, indicating a 19.9% increase, while the third quarter saw Keytruda sales totaling $6.3 billion.

HUMIRA is a prescription medicine utilized to alleviate the signs and symptoms of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), chronic plaque psoriasis (Ps), and non-infectious intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis. Global Humira net revenues experienced a 36.2% decrease in the third quarter, reaching $3.547 billion. In the US, Humira net revenues amounted to $3.020 billion, reflecting a 39.1% decrease, while internationally, Humira net revenues were $527 million, marking a 12.6% decrease on a reported basis or 12.2% on an operational basis.

COMIRNATY is administered for active immunization to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals aged 12 and above. The third quarter of 2023 witnessed a 41% operational revenue decline, primarily attributed to the anticipated decrease in Paxlovid and Comirnaty revenues. Comirnaty revenues were approximately $11.5 billion, showcasing a 70% decline from 2022 results.

STELARA (ustekinumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis, Crohn's Disease, Plaque Psoriasis, and Psoriatic Arthritis. The projected sales for the drug in 2024 are $10.54 billion, reflecting a 3% decrease from the $10.86 billion reported in 2023.

ELIQUIS is prescribed for the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which may lead to pulmonary embolism (PE), in patients who have undergone hip or knee replacement surgery. Additionally, ELIQUIS is indicated for the treatment of DVT. In the third quarter, Eliquis' worldwide revenues increased by 2% compared to the previous year. US revenues amounted to $1.8 billion, a 4% increase from the prior year, driven primarily by higher demand but partially offset by GTN adjustments in 2023. International revenues totaled $906 million, reflecting a 2% decrease, primarily influenced by lower average net selling prices and generic erosion in Canada and the UK.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the pharmaceutical landscape in the specified period showcased significant developments in the sales and performance of key medications. Keytruda, Merck's PD-1-targeted medication, is anticipated to secure the position of the world's highest-selling medicine in the coming year, with an impressive projection of nearly $4 billion in new sales for 2023. Conversely, the portfolio of Covid-related products is anticipated to experience a substantial decline. Stelara by Johnson & Johnson/Mitsubishi Chemical is expected to demonstrate robust growth at 11.3%, while Eliquis, a collaborative effort between Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer, is projected to witness a commendable year-over-year increase of 7.7% in 2023. This overview underscores the dynamic nature of the pharmaceutical industry, reflecting both successes and challenges in the performance of key medications.