Many new medications and
treatments have emerged this year for improving the management and prognoses of
patients suffering from serious diseases. Driven growing therapy areas such as
oncology, anti-rheumatics, and anti-virals, the prescription drug sales are
increasing significantly. Let’s take a quick look at the top pharmaceutical
therapy areas in 2017:
1.
Oncology
Oncology is
maintaining its top position as a therapy area as new and effective oral
treatments emerge. Focus is given to the aging population who are most likely
to be affected by this deadly disease. Advances in treatment, including
radiation, surgery, and medication therapies have helped patients to live
longer. In 2016, the oncology prescription drugs and OTC sales reached $93.7bn,
with the worldwide market share of 11.7%.
2.
Anti-Rheumatics
Abbvie, a
global pharmaceutical company, still dominates the anti-rheumatic market, with
its best-selling anti-rheumatic product, Humira. Celgene is also maintaining
its leading position due to the immense popularity of Otezla. In
2016, global ant-rheumatic drugs sale reached $53.3 billion.
3.
Anti-virals
Gilead is
continuing to dominate the anti-virals market in 2017, with the leading market
share of Harvoni and Sovaldi, two popular prescription drugs for the treatment
of Hepatitis C. In 2016, the anti-virals prescription drugs and OTC sales
reached $48.5bn, with the worldwide market share of 6.0%.
4.
Anti-diabetics
In 2016,
pharmaceutical companies earned $43.6bn through selling anti-diabetics
prescription drugs and OTC. New and innovative drugs have entered this market.
Inflation is another reason for this high sales amount. Novo Nordisk is the
major player in this industry, which earned $12.9bn in 2016 by selling
anti-diabetic drugs.
5.
Bronchodilators
These
categories of drugs are used to relax the bronchial smooth muscle in order to
open up the breathing passage. These include long- and short-acting
beta2-agonists and theophylline. In 2016, pharmaceutical companies
earned $28.3bn through selling these drugs.
6.
Vaccines
Companies
commanding the vaccines market include GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Pfizer, and
Sanofi. They share approximately 20% of the worldwide vaccine market. Global
vaccines sale reached $27.5bn in 2016.
7.
Anti-hypertensives
Nearly 75M
Americans suffer from hypertension, or persistent elevation of blood pressure.
Diuretics is the first line of treatment for hypertension recommended by most
of the physicians, and holds the largest market share for antihypertensives. In
2016, antihypertensive prescription drugs and OTC sales reached $24.8bn, with
the worldwide market share of 3.1%.
8.
Sensory Organs
Pharmaceutical
companies earned $20.2bn in 2016 by selling drugs acting on the sensory organs,
with the global market share of 2.5%. These organs are used to touch, smell,
sound, sight, or taste.
9.
Anti-coagulants
Worldwide
anti-coagulants sale reached $14.1bn in 2016, with 1.8% of market share.
Anti-coagulants are used for preventing blood clots. Warfarin is the most
commonly prescribed anti-coagulant.
10.
Immunosuppressants
These
Immunosuppressant drugs are often used for treating autoimmune diseases like
rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and lupus. More than 23.5M Americans are
affected by an autoimmune disease. Worldwide sale of immunosuppressant
drugs reached $11.6bn in 2016.
