The Pharmaceutical industry is big business and seems to be getting bigger every year. The so called drug companies that make up this industry are some of the most profitable companies in the world and many, keep growing. Here is a list of the top 10 Pharmaceutical companies 2013 with their total revenues and their best selling product.
10
Bayer Health Care, Betaseron, US$22.3 Billion
This German company specializes in the discovery and production of products that will diagnose, prevent or treat diseases in animals or humans. An international company, it is known worldwide for providing drugs that promote a healthy life.
9
Merck, Januvia, US$27.43 Billion
This New Jersey based American company has a mission to serve customer needs and be known as a caretaker of world health. The company also publishes medical reference books including the best selling medical textbook The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy.
8
Abbott Laboratories, Humira, US$30.76 Billion
Comprising of 200 smaller companies, this US based global company employs about 90,000 workers. The company’s claim is that it provides nutritional products for all stages of life and that their products are trustworthy.
7
AstraZeneca, Nexium, US$32.81 Billion
After the UK based company Zeneca merged with the Swedish based company Astra, the combined company is now headquartered in the UK. The company claims to use innovative drugs in order to speed up health care.
6
Sanofi, Copaxone, US$41.99 Billion
Although this French company is also in the vaccine and animal care business, its primary concern is the production of over the counter and prescribed medicines.
5
Novartis, Diovan, US$44.27 Billion
This Swiss company, although by this name was only formed in 1996, it has, under different names, been a leader in pharmaceuticals for 250 years. Involved in many areas of the pharmaceutical business it now operates in 140 countries. In 2006 it took court action against India for making generic medicines that were under patent.
4
GlaxoSmithKline, Advair, US$45.83 Billion
This UK based company claims that its aim is to improve the quality of life by making people feel healthier and live longer. As well as making vaccines and medications, the company also produces health care products such as Horlicks and Boost.
3
Roche, Tamiflu, US$47.35 Billion
This Swiss company was founded in 1896 by Fritz Hoffmann-La Roche and was first in introducing vitamin-C, synthetically, on a large scale. Its aim is to develop new and improved drugs and believes that as people are different, they are subject to different forms of disease.
2
Pfizer, Lyrica, US$50.01 Billion
This US based company is the largest company based purely on pharmaceuticals. Although it started as a small company in 1849, it first became a leader in the field with the discovery of Terramycin in 1950.
1
Johnson & Johnson, Remicade, US$61.9 Billion
Although this US based company is very big in the pharmaceutical business, it also produces baby and beauty care products along with other consumer packaged goods.