Alex Philippidis Senior News Editor Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Find out how many billions these blockbusters raked in.

What is a best-selling drug worth? In 2013, at least, it came down to at least $3 billion in annual sales—triple the $1 billion benchmark that has long defined “blockbuster” treatments.

Even then, $3 billion only gets your drug on the bottom of GEN’s top 25 best-selling drugs list for 2013. Among the top three disease categories, six best-selling drugs have indications for forms of cancer, four for arthritis, and three for diabetes. Four indications—asthma/COPD, heart disease, HIV, and neurological—are each represented on the list by two best sellers.

This year’s list ranks drugs based on sales or revenue reported by biopharma companies in press announcements, annual reports, investor materials, and conference calls during 2013. Each drug is listed by name, sponsor(s), diseases indicated, 2013 sales, 2012 sales, the percentage change between both years, and fourth-quarter figures for 2013 and 2012. The patent cliff knocked out from this year’s list three best sellers of 2012—Plavix (#11, Sanofi and Bristol-Myers Squibb), Lipitor (#15, Pfizer), and Singulair (#17, Merck & Co.).

#25. Avonex (interferon beta-1a)

Sponsor(s): Biogen Idec

Indication(s): Relapsing forms of MS, to slow accumulation of physical disability and decrease frequency of clinical exacerbations

2013 sales: $3.005 billion

2012 sales: $2.913 billion

% Change: 3.2%

Q4 2013 sales: $751 million, down 0.3% from $753 million in Q4 2012

#24. NovoLog / NovoRapid (Insulin aspart [rDNA origin] injection)

Sponsor(s): Novo Nordisk

Indication(s): Man-made insulin for diabetes in adults and children

2013 sales: $3.101 billion (DKK 16.848 billion)

2012 sales: $2.888 billion (DKK 15.693 billion)

% Change: 7.4%

Q4 2013 sales: N/A

#23. Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate)

Sponsor(s): Gilead Sciences

Indication(s): HIV-1 infection in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older (with other antiretroviral agents); pre-exposure prophylaxis to reduce risk of sexually-acquired HIV-1 in high-risk adults (with safer sex practices)

2013 sales: $3.135 billion

2012 sales: $3.181 billion

% Change: -1.4%

Q4 2013 sales: $814 million, down 2.3% from $833 million in Q4 2012

#22. Symbicort (budesonide and formoterol)

Sponsor(s): AstraZeneca

Indication(s): Asthma untreatable via long-term asthma control medicine, or severe, in patients aged 12+; COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, in adults

2013 sales: $3.483 billion

2012 sales: $3.194 billion

% Change: 9.0%

Q4 2013 sales: $976 million, up 16.3% from $839 million in Q4 2012

#21. Diovan (Valsartan) and Co-Diovan (Valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide)

Sponsor(s): Novartis

Indication(s): Hypertension, heart failure, and postmyocardial infarction (Diovan); hypertension in patients not adequately controlled with monotherapy, and as initial therapy in patients likely to need multiple drugs (Co-Diovan)

2013 sales: $3.524 billion

2012 sales: $4.417 billion

% Change: -20.2%

Q4 2013 sales: $843 million, down 15.0% from $992 million in Q4 2012

#20. Atripla (efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir)

Sponsor(s): Gilead Sciences and Bristol-Myers Squibb1

Indication(s): HIV-1 infection in adults and children 12 years and older, alone or with other antiretroviral agents

2013 sales: $3.648 billion1

2012 sales: $3.574 billion1

% Change: 2.1%

Q4 2013 sales: $934 million, up 1.9% from $917 million in Q4 2012

#19. Nexium (esomeprazole)

Sponsor(s): AstraZeneca

Indication(s): Erosive esophagitis; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); NSAID-associated gastric ulcers in at-risk patients

2013 sales: $3.872 billion

2012 sales: $3.944 billion

% Change: -1.8%

Q4 2013 sales: $0.991 billion, down 5.3% from $1.047 billion in Q4 2012

#18. Prevnar

Sponsor(s): Pfizer

Indication(s): Diseases caused by 13 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, and 23F) in children ages six weeks through 17 years; prevention of otitis media caused by strains 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F in children six weeks through five years; prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia and invasive disease caused by the 13 vaccine strains in adults ages 50 and older

2013 sales: $3.974 billion

2012 sales: $4.117 billion

% Change: -3.5%

Q4 2013 sales: $1.189 billion, up 9.2% from $1.089 billion in Q4 2012

#17. Januvia (sitagliptin)

Sponsor(s): Merck & Co.

Indication(s): Type 2 diabetes in adults

2013 sales: $4.004 billion

2012 sales: $4.086 billion

% Change: -2.0%

Q4 2013 sales: $1.121 billion, down 1.1% from $1.134 billion in Q4 2012

#16. Revlimid (lenalidomide)

Sponsor(s): Celgene

Indication(s): Multiple myeloma (with dexamethasone) for patients with at least one prior therapy; transfusion-dependent anemia due to low- or intermediate-1-risk myelodysplastic syndromes associated with a deletion 5q abnormality with or without additional cytogenetic abnormalities; mantle cell lymphoma in patients whose disease has relapsed or progressed after two prior therapies, one of which included bortezomib

2013 sales: $4.280 billion

2012 sales: $3.767 billion

% Change: 13.6%

Q4 2013 sales: $1.136 billion, up 13.4% from $1.002 billion in Q4 2012

#15. Copaxone

Sponsor(s): Teva Pharmaceutical Industries

Indication(s): Relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis

2013 sales: $4.328 billion

2012 sales: $3.996 billion

% Change: 8.3%

Q4 2013 sales: $1.142 billion, up 7.8% from $1.059 billion in Q4 2012

#14. Neulasta (pegfilgrastim)

Sponsor(s): Amgen2

Indication(s): Neutropenia caused by cancer chemotherapy

2013 sales: $4.392 billion

2012 sales: $4.092 billion

% Change: 7.3%

Q4 2013 sales: $1.098 billion, up 10.5% from $994 million in Q4 2012

#13. Lyrica (pregabalin)

Sponsor(s): Pfizer

Indication(s): Fibromyalgia, diabetic nerve pain, spinal cord injury nerve pain, and pain after shingles

2013 sales: $4.595 billion

2012 sales: $4.158 billion

% Change: 10.5%

Q4 2013 sales: $1.260 billion, up 11.3% from $1.132 billion in Q4 2012

#12. Gleevec (also sold as Glivec, imatinib mesylate)

Sponsor(s): Novartis

Indication(s): Specified patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML); specified patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL); adults with myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases associated with platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) gene re-arrangements; adults with aggressive systemic mastocytosis without the D816V c-KIT mutation or with c-KIT mutational status unknown; adults with hypereosinophilic syndrome and/or chronic eosinophilic leukemia, and all patients FIP1L1-PDGFRα fusion kinase negative or unknown; adults with unresectable, recurrent, and/or metastatic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans; patients with KIT (CD117)-positive unresectable and/or metastatic malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs); adults after surgery for removal of KIT (CD117)-positive GISTs

2013 sales: $4.693 billion

2012 sales: $4.675 billion

% Change: 0.4%

Q4 2013 sales: $1.227 billion, up 4.1% from $1.179 billion in Q4 2012

#11. Cymbalta (duloxetine)

Sponsor(s): Eli Lilly and Shionogi

Indication(s): Major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, and fibromyalgia; management of chronic musculoskeletal pain due to chronic osteoarthritis pain and chronic low back pain

2013 sales: $5.191 billion ($5.084 billion Lilly + $0.107 billion [¥10.9 billion] Shionogi)

2012 sales: $5.082 billion ($4.994 billion Lilly + $0.088 billion [¥9.0 billion] Shionogi)

% Change: 2.1%

Q4 2013 sales: $0.863 billion ($0.883 billion Lilly + $0.030 billion [¥3.1 billion] Shionogi), down 40.2% from $1.443 billion ($1.420 billion Lilly + $0.023 billion [¥2.4 billion] Shionogi) in Q4 20123

#10. Abilify (aripiprazole)

Sponsor(s): Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Bristol-Myers Squibb4

Indication(s): Schizophrenia; bipolar I disorder, both alone and an adjunct to lithium or valproate; agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder; adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder; irritability associated with autistic disorder

2013 sales: $5.265 billion (¥537.9 billion)4

2012 sales: $4.088 billion (¥417.7 billion)4

% Change: 28.8%

Q4 2013 sales: $1.450 billion (¥148.2 billion), up 42.0% from $1.022 billion (¥104.4 billion) in Q4 20124

#9. Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium)

Sponsor(s): AstraZeneca and Shionogi

Indication(s): Reduction of cholesterol and buildup of plaque in arteries

2013 sales: $5.994 billion ($5.622 billion AstraZeneca + $0.372 billion [¥38.1 billion] Shionogi)

2012 sales: $6.618 billion ($6.253 billion AstraZeneca + $0.365 billion [¥37.4 billion] Shionogi)

% Change: -9.4%

Q4 2013 sales: $1.566 billion [$1.463 billion AstraZeneca + $0.103 billion (¥10.6 billion) Shionogi], down 8.8% from $1.718 billion [$1.622 billion AstraZeneca + $0.096 billion (¥9.8 billion) (Shionogi)] in Q4 2012

#8. Herceptin (trastuzumab)

Sponsor(s): Roche

Indication(s): HER2 overexpressing breast cancer; HER2 overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer

2013 sales: $6.839 billion (CHF 6.079 billion)

2012 sales: $6.624 billion (CHF 5.889 billion)

% Change: 3.1%

Q4 2013 sales: $1.671 billion (CHF 1.485 billion), up 1.9% from $1.639 billion (CHF 1.457 billion) in Q4 2012

#7. Avastin (bevacizumab)

Sponsor(s): Roche

Indication(s): Metastatic colorectal cancer (colon cancer), non–small cell lung cancer, glioblastoma, and metastatic kidney

2013 sales: $7.037 billion (CHF 6.254 billion)

2012 sales: $6.485 billion (CHF 5.764 billion)

% Change: 8.5%

Q4 2013 sales: $1.737 billion (CHF 1.544 billion), up 6.1% from $1.637 billion (CHF 1.455 billion) in Q4 2012

#6. Lantus (insulin glargine)

Sponsor(s): Sanofi

Indication(s): Once-daily treatment for diabetes

2013 sales: $7.849 billion (€5.715 billion)

2012 sales: $6.648 billion (€4.960 billion)

% Change: 15.2%

Q4 2013 sales: $2.077 billion (€1.512 billion), up 13.3% from $1.834 billion (€1.335 billion) in Q4 2012

#5. Enbrel (etanercept)

Sponsor(s): Amgen and Pfizer

Indication(s): Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis

2013 sales: $8.325 billion ($4.551 billion Amgen + $3.774 billion Pfizer)5

2012 sales: $7.963 billion ($4.236 billion Amgen + $3.737 billion Pfizer)5

% Change: 4.5%

Q4 2013 sales: $2.205 billion ($1.200 billion Amgen + $1.005 billion Pfizer), up 4.1% from $2.118 billion ($1.161 billion Amgen + $0.957 billion Pfizer) in Q4 2012

#4. Advair (fluticasone and salmeterol; sold in some countries as Seretide)

Sponsor(s): GlaxoSmithKline

Indication(s): Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema

2013 sales: $8.783 billion (£5.274 billion)

2012 sales: $8.402 billion (£5.046 billion)

% Change: 4.5%

Q4 2013 sales: $2.328 billion (£1.398 billion), up 6.8% from $2.180 billion (£1.309 billion) in Q4 2012

#3. Rituxan (rituximab, MabThera)

Sponsor(s): Roche (Genentech) and Biogen Idec

Indication(s): Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and rheumatoid arthritis

2013 sales: $8.920 billion ($7.820 billion [CHF 6.951 billion] Roche + $1.1 billion Biogen Idec)6

2012 sales: $8.646 billion ($7.546 billion [CHF 6.707 billion] Roche + $1.1 billion Biogen Idec)6

% Change: 3.2%

Q4 2013 sales: $2.232 billion ($1.963 billion [CHF 1.745 billion] Roche + $0.269 billion Biogen Idec), up 1.3% from $2.204 billion ($1.923 billion [CHF 1.709 billion] Roche + $0.281 billion Biogen Idec) in Q4 2012

#2. Remicade (infliximab)

Sponsor(s): Johnson & Johnson and Merck & Co.

Indication(s): Moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis in adults (with methotrexate); Crohn’s disease in children six years and older, and in adults who have not responded well to other medicines; rheumatoid arthritis; ankylosing spondylitis; psoriatic arthritis; chronic, severe, extensive, and/or disabling plaque psoriasis in adults; moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in children six years and older, and in adults that have not responded well to other medicines

2013 sales: $8.944 billion ($6.673 billion J&J + $2.271 billion Merck & Co.)

2012 sales: $8.215 billion ($6.139 billion J&J + $2.076 billion Merck & Co.)

% Change: 8.9%

Q4 2013 sales: $2.332 billion, up 13.6% from $2.053 billion in Q4 2012 (2013: $1.712 billion J&J + $0.620 billion Merck & Co.; 2012: $1.504 billion J&J + $0.549 billion Merck & Co.)

#1. Humira (adalimumab)

Sponsor(s): AbbVie7

Indication(s): Moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis; moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis; moderate to severe Crohn’s disease; moderate to severe ulcerative colitis; ankylosing spondylitis; psoriatic arthritis; moderate to severe polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis

2013 sales: $10.659 billion

2012 sales: $9.265 billion

% Change: 15.0%

Q4 2013 sales: $3.039 billion, up 13.4% from $2.681 billion in Q4 2012

At least one best-seller, Boehringer Ingelheim’s Spiriva, could not be ranked on this list because the company does not release 2013 sales figures until April. Spiriva sales in the first half of 2013 were €1.826 billion ($2.510 billion), up 3.6% from the first half of 2012, putting it on pace ahead of 2012, when it racked up €3.6 billion ($4.9 billion).

Notes:
1 Does not include sales from Bristol-Myers Squibb, since BMS combines sales of bulk efavirenz used in Atripla with sales of BMS’ Sustiva in a reporting category called “Sustiva franchise.” BMS reported full-year 2013 “Sustiva franchise” sales of $1.614 billion, up 6% over 2012, and Q4 2013 sales of $427 million, up 11% from $383 million in Q4 2012.
2 Also sold by Roche under the brand Neulastim. Roche did not disclose sales figures on Neulastim for 2013 or 2012.
3 Q4 2013 sales for Eli Lilly were impacted by a 49% plunge in Lilly’s U.S. sales of Cymbalta over the year-ago quarter, to $577.3 million, due to lower demand stemming from the loss of Cymbalta’s U.S. patent exclusivity on December 11, 2013.
4 Otsuka records net sales and then pays a portion of that as a fee to BMS, as detailed under the companies’ development and commercialization agreement covering the U.S. That portion was 51.5% in 2012 and 50% in 2013, according to an extension of the agreement announced in 2009. See: http://news.bms.com/press-release/financial-news/bristol-myers-squibb-announces-extension-us-agreement-abilify-and-estab. During 2013, BMS recorded $2.289 billion in worldwide revenues, down 19% from $2.827 billion in 2012. For the fourth quarter of 2013, BMS recorded $635 million in worldwide revenues, down 22% from $819 million in Q4 2012.
5 Pfizer does not furnish individual sales figures for Enbrel in the U.S. or Canada, but combined those sales through October 31, 2013, in a category called “Alliance revenues,” which also includes sales of Enbrel (in the U.S. and Canada through October 31, 2013), as well as Aricept, Eliquis, Rebif, and Spiriva.
6 Biogen Idec figure includes sales from a next-generation version of Rituxan, Gazyva (obinutuzumab), but those are likely minimal since Gazyva launched in November 2013.
7 Company spun out January 2, 2013, from Abbott Laboratories, whose portfolio included Humira during 2012.

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