Top selling drugs of 2024 | Best selling drugs of 2024 | iPharmaCenter

Top selling drugs of 2024

Sl No	Brand	Q1 Revenues
1	Keytruda	$29.5 billion
2	Ozempic	$16.7 billion
3	Dupixent	$13.4 billion
4	Eliquis	$ 13.3 billion
5	Biktarvy	$13.0 billion
6	Skyrizi	$11.7 billion
7	Darzalex	$11.7 billion
8	Stelara	$10.4 billion
9	Opdivo	$9.3 billion
10	Humira	$9.0 billion

Also read: Top pharmaceutical companies by revenues in 2024

Chart of the best-selling drugs in 2024, listing Keytruda as top with $29.5B, followed by Ozempic, Dupixent, and others. Revenues are in billions.

Top selling drugs of 2024

1. Keytruda (Pembrolizumab)

• Approved for: Keytruda is approved for treating various types of cancer, including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, classical Hodgkin lymphoma, urothelial carcinoma, and more.

• Manufacturer: Merck

• Mechanism of Action: Keytruda is a monoclonal antibody that works by targeting and blocking the PD-1 (programmed death receptor-1) protein on the surface of T-cells. This inhibition boosts the immune system's ability to detect and destroy cancer cells.

  
  

  Merck’s blockbuster immunotherapy, Keytruda, continues to dominate the oncology landscape, reporting $29.5 billion in sales in 2024, an 18% year-over-year increase. This remarkable growth is fueled by robust global demand, especially in metastatic indications and expanding use in earlier-stage cancers.

  
  

  Key Factors Behind Keytruda’s Growth

  1. U.S. Market Expansion

  Keytruda’s sales in the United States saw significant gains, primarily due to increased uptake in both metastatic and earlier-stage cancers. Key areas of growth include:

  • Locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer

  • Primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer

  • Earlier-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

  • Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)

  
  

  2. Global Adoption and Earlier-Stage Indications

  Outside the U.S., Keytruda continues to expand its footprint, with increased adoption in earlier-stage cancers and sustained demand for metastatic indications. Key contributors to international growth include:

  • High-risk, early-stage TNBC

  • Continued use in metastatic cancers across various tumor types

  
  

  A major driver of Keytruda’s growth has been its unmatched efficacy in earlier-stage cancers. It is currently the only immune-oncology (IO) therapy to demonstrate a significant overall survival (OS) benefit across four clinical trials, leading to nine regulatory approvals.

  
  

  Keytruda has shown OS benefit in:

  • Perioperative NSCLC (Stage II, IIIA, or IIIB (N2))

  • Adjuvant treatment for intermediate-high or high-risk renal cell carcinoma (RCC)

  • Perioperative high-risk early-stage TNBC

  • FIGO 2014 stage III-IVA cervical cancer

Also read: J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference 2025

2. Ozempic (Semaglutide)

• Approved for: Ozempic is approved for managing type 2 diabetes and reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease.

• Manufacturer: Novo Nordisk

• Mechanism of Action: Ozempic is a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist that mimics the action of the natural hormone GLP-1, enhancing insulin secretion, suppressing glucagon secretion, and slowing gastric emptying, which together helps control blood sugar levels.

Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster diabetes medication, Ozempic, continues its strong growth trajectory, reporting a 26% increase in sales in both Danish kroner and at constant exchange rates (CER), reaching DKK 120,342 million.

Ozempic remains the world’s best-selling diabetes medication, driven by its proven efficacy in blood sugar control and weight reduction. As a once-weekly injectable therapy, it continues to offer significant advantages in patient adherence and convenience.

Beyond its role in diabetes management, Ozempic’s sales growth has been bolstered by emerging clinical data highlighting broader health benefits. Recent studies have demonstrated:

• Reduced risk of kidney disease progression in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

• Functional improvements in individuals with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) compared to placebo.

Also read: European Drug Approvals | CHMP Positive Opinions | January 2025

3. Dupixent (Dupilumab)

• Approved for: Dupixent is approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, asthma, and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.

• Manufacturer: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi

• Mechanism of Action: Dupixent is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the signalling of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13), two key cytokines involved in the inflammatory response in various allergic and atopic diseases.

Sanofi and Regeneron’s blockbuster biologic, Dupixent, has surpassed expectations, exceeding its €13 billion sales target in 2024, with continued strong momentum across multiple indications.

Dupixent continues to see robust prescription growth across its approved indications, solidifying its position as the number 1 new-to-brand prescription (NBRx) therapy across multiple markets.

One of the most anticipated milestones for Dupixent in 2024 has been the initiation of COPD launches, opening a significant new market opportunity. With millions of COPD patients worldwide, this expansion is expected to drive further revenue acceleration.

Dupixent’s success is fueled by its continued expansion into new indications, reinforcing its broad potential in immunological diseases. Key regulatory updates include:

• Approval in the EU for Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) in children

• Resubmission acceptance for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU) in the U.S., with a PDUFA date of April 18

• Submission in the U.S. for Bullous Pemphigoid (BP), further expanding its dermatology portfolio

4. Eliquis

• Eliquis, a factor Xa inhibitor, is indicated for:

  • Stroke and embolism prevention in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients.

  • DVT prevention in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery.

  • Treatment and recurrence prevention of DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE).

• Manufacturer: BMS

  
  

5. Biktarvy (Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir alafenamide)

• Approved for: Biktarvy is approved for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and pediatric patients weighing at least 25 kg.

• Manufacturer: Gilead Sciences

• Mechanism of Action: Biktarvy combines three antiretroviral drugs: bictegravir (an integrase strand transfer inhibitor), emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide (both nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors), which together inhibit viral replication at different stages.

6. Skyrizi (Risankizumab)

• Approved for: Skyrizi is approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis.

• Manufacturer: AbbVie Inc.

• Mechanism of Action: Skyrizi is a monoclonal antibody that selectively targets and inhibits interleukin-23 (IL-23), a cytokine involved in the inflammatory process of psoriasis. By blocking IL-23, Skyrizi reduces inflammation and the symptoms of psoriasis.

  
  

7. Darzalex (Daratumumab)

• Approved for: Darzalex is approved for treating multiple myeloma, either as a monotherapy or in combination with other therapies.

• Manufacturer: Janssen Biotech, Inc.

• Mechanism of Action: Darzalex is a monoclonal antibody that targets CD38, a protein highly expressed on the surface of multiple myeloma cells, leading to the destruction of these cancer cells via immune-mediated mechanisms.

8. Stelara (Ustekinumab)

• Approved for: Stelara is approved for treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.

• Manufacturer: Janssen Biotech, Inc.

• Mechanism of Action: Stelara is a monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-23 (IL-23), cytokines that are involved in inflammatory and immune responses, thereby reducing inflammation and autoimmune reactions.

9. Opdivo (Nivolumab)

• Approved for: Opdivo is approved for treating multiple types of cancer, including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, classical Hodgkin lymphoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, urothelial carcinoma, and more.

• Manufacturer: Bristol-Myers Squibb

• Mechanism of Action: Opdivo is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the PD-1 receptor on T-cells. By blocking this receptor, Opdivo enhances the immune system's ability to recognize and attack cancer cells.

10. Humira (Adalimumab)

• Approved for: Humira is approved

• for treating a variety of inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

• Manufacturer: AbbVie Inc.

• Mechanism of Action: Humira is a TNF (tumor necrosis factor) inhibitor. It binds to TNF-alpha, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, blocking its interaction with TNF receptors, thereby reducing inflammation and altering the immune response.