It’s been several years since COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna jumped to the top of the pharma industry’s sales charts, displacing longtime stalwarts with unprecedented sales. But, as 2023 featured major patent expirations, the rise of weight loss drugs and other new dynamics, the year’s ranking of the top 20 drugs by global sales featured its fair share of surprises.
Merck’s oncology king Keytruda rose to the top last year, adding yet another feather in its cap. With more than 30 indications across various cancer types and stages, the PD-L1 inhibitor shows no signs of stopping.
With $25 billion in global sales, the drug accounted for about 40% of Merck’s total revenue last year. Keytruda’s sales are expected to reach $30 billion this year.
