My Take on the 2018 Global Top 100 Drug Sales
From this, it can be seen that TOP1 continues to lead strongly thanks to its broad indications, followed closely by the chemical small-molecule drugs apixaban and lenalidomide. In particular, apixaban and rivaroxaban have risen rapidly due to their excellent efficacy. The gap between positions 4 and 9 is very small, where five of the world's best-selling anti-cancer drugs are clustered: the PD-1 monoclonal antibody duo Keytruda and Opdivo, along with Roche's three giants, showing a trend of new and old alternating. Anti-tumor drugs still occupy a significant share, with both biologics and chemical drugs ranking at the forefront. In the diabetes small-molecule field, sitagliptin takes the lead, while empagliflozin begins to exert its power. In the hepatitis C field, due to the outstanding therapeutic effects of combination drugs like sofosbuvir, the number of hepatitis C patients has plummeted, and sales of hepatitis C curative drugs are accelerating downward. Although biologics remain a hot spot, small-molecule chemical drugs also have potential. We look forward to more sofosbuvirs and apixabans breaking through the encirclement of biologics and entering the TOP10.
