A handful of prescription medicines now generate tens of billions of dollars in annual sales, reflecting strong demand for diabetes, obesity, cancer and chronic inflammatory disease treatments. Mounjaro, Keytruda, Ozempic, Dupixent and Skyrizi stand out for their commercial performance, expanding indications and growing role in pharmaceutical company strategies.
According to Towards Healthcare, the global drugs market is projected to grow from approximately $1.79 trillion in 2026 to $3.03 trillion by 2035, at a CAGR of 6.04%. Prescription medicines accounted for about 60% of the global drugs market in 2025, while branded drugs represented approximately 40%. Oncology remained the leading therapeutic area.
The five medicines examined here demonstrate how clinical applications, pricing, market access and competition influence pharmaceutical sales.
1. Mounjaro: Eli Lilly’s Leading Diabetes and Weight Management Drug
Generic name: Tirzepatide
Manufacturer: Eli Lilly and Company
First FDA approval: 2022
Mounjaro is an injectable prescription medicine used with diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Its dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor activity helps regulate insulin secretion, glucagon, digestion and appetite. The same active ingredient is marketed as Zepbound for chronic weight management and certain obesity related indications.
Sales and commercial performance
Mounjaro generated $22.97 billion in revenue in 2025, nearly double its approximately $11.5 billion in 2024 sales. Lilly reported $9.94 billion in second-quarter 2026 sales, up 91% year over year.
In India, reported prices range from approximately ₹3,281 for a 2.5 mg vial to ₹25,781 for a 15 mg KwikPen, depending on the formulation and prescribed dose.
Competitive landscape
Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide brands, Ozempic and Wegovy, are major competitors. Eli Lilly is also developing retatrutide, a triple GIP/GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist, while Novo Nordisk continues advancing next-generation semaglutide treatments.
The key commercial factors are expanding treatment eligibility, long-term patient access, reimbursement and competition across diabetes and obesity care.
2. Keytruda: Merck’s $31 Billion Oncology Franchise
Generic name: Pembrolizumab
Manufacturer: Merck & Co.
First FDA approval: 2014
Keytruda is an immunotherapy that blocks the PD-1 immune checkpoint, helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. Its approved uses span multiple cancers, including lung cancer, melanoma, breast cancer, head and neck cancer and bladder cancer.
Sales and commercial performance
Keytruda generated $31.64 billion in sales in 2025, up from $29.48 billion in 2024, making it one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical products by revenue.
Its U.S. list price for a six-week dose is approximately $24,544, although insurance coverage, reimbursement and patient assistance affect actual costs.
In Australia, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme expanded access to Keytruda for a broader range of cancers from September 2026, with eligible patients generally paying a maximum of A$25 per infusion.
Competitive landscape
Bristol Myers Squibb’s Opdivo (nivolumab) is a major competitor. Other companies are advancing immunotherapies and bispecific antibodies.
Patent-expiration planning is also becoming increasingly important. In September 2026, India’s Cipla announced a partnership with China’s Qilu Pharmaceutical to commercialize a Keytruda biosimilar for the U.S. market.
For oncology companies, the main strategic priorities include indication expansion, clinical differentiation, pricing and preparation for biosimilar competition.
3. Ozempic: Novo Nordisk’s Global Diabetes Brand
Generic name: Semaglutide
Manufacturer: Novo Nordisk
First FDA approval: 2017
Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used primarily to improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It stimulates insulin release when glucose is elevated, reduces glucagon secretion, slows gastric emptying and suppresses appetite.
Semaglutide is also marketed as Wegovy for obesity and Rybelsus as an oral diabetes treatment.
Sales and commercial performance
Novo Nordisk reported DKK 127.09 billion in Ozempic sales in 2025, compared with DKK 120.34 billion in 2024.
In the U.S., the reported monthly list price has historically been around $1,000 or more, although eligible patients may access lower prices through manufacturer programs. Reported Indian treatment costs in 2026 range from approximately ₹5,660 to ₹9,100 per month, depending on dose and pharmacy pricing.
An international KFF comparison found a monthly list price of about $936 in the U.S., compared with approximately $169 in Japan and substantially lower prices in the UK, Australia, France and Sweden.
Gallup reported in July 2026 that 91% of U.S. adults were aware of GLP-1 medicines used for weight loss, compared with 80% in 2024.
Competitive landscape
Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and tirzepatide franchise is a major competitor. Other companies pursuing metabolic treatments include Amgen with MariTide, Viking Therapeutics with VK2735 and Structure Therapeutics with oral GLP-1 candidates.
The commercial opportunity extends beyond diabetes into obesity care, but competition increasingly depends on clinical outcomes, affordability, supply and long-term treatment access.
4. Dupixent: Sanofi and Regeneron’s Immunology Leader
Generic name: Dupilumab
Manufacturers: Sanofi and Regeneron
First FDA approval: 2017
Dupixent is a monoclonal antibody that blocks the IL-4 receptor alpha pathway, inhibiting signaling associated with IL-4 and IL-13. It is used for several inflammatory conditions, including atopic dermatitis, asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and eosinophilic esophagitis.
Its targeted mechanism addresses type-2 inflammation, supporting its use across multiple chronic diseases.
Sales and commercial performance
Dupixent generated approximately €15.71 billion in sales in 2025, an increase of more than 20% from the previous year.
Its reported U.S. list price is approximately $4,193 per carton. In Australia, a 300 mg pack is listed at approximately A$1,756, while eligible patients can pay a general subsidized patient charge of A$25.
Competitive landscape
Competitors include Adbry, Ebglyss, nemolizumab and other targeted immunology treatments. Competition varies by indication and includes therapies targeting IL-13, IL-31 and IL-23.
Sanofi and Regeneron’s continued indication expansion supports growth, while competing biologics and alternative treatment mechanisms create pressure to demonstrate better outcomes, access and value.
5. Skyrizi: AbbVie’s Expanding Inflammatory Disease Franchise
Generic name: Risankizumab-rzaa
Manufacturer: AbbVie
First FDA approval: 2019
Skyrizi is an IL-23 inhibitor used to treat inflammatory diseases, including plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It selectively blocks IL-23, a cytokine involved in chronic inflammation.
Expansion into gastrointestinal diseases has broadened its commercial opportunity beyond dermatology.
Sales and commercial performance
AbbVie reported $17.56 billion in Skyrizi revenue in 2025, representing approximately 50% growth from 2024.
The U.S. wholesale acquisition cost for one dose was $23,838.42 as of January 6, 2026. In Australia, a 150 mg pen is listed at approximately A$5,140, while eligible patients may pay a general subsidized charge of A$25.
Competitive landscape
Major competitors include Tremfya, Stelara, Bimzelx and AbbVie’s own Rinvoq, depending on the indication.
The competitive landscape increasingly centers on selective cytokine inhibition, oral therapies, dosing convenience and sustained disease control.
What These Drug Sales Reveal About the Pharmaceutical Industry
The commercial performance of these five medicines highlights several important industry trends:
- Chronic disease treatments generate substantial revenue: Diabetes, obesity, cancer and inflammatory conditions create long-term treatment needs across large patient populations.
- New indications expand commercial potential: Drugs that demonstrate clinical value in additional diseases can access broader patient populations.
- Pricing and reimbursement influence access: List prices differ substantially across countries, and public reimbursement can change the number of patients able to receive treatment.
- Competition extends beyond established brands: New mechanisms, biosimilars and next-generation therapies can affect pricing, prescribing and future revenue.
- Clinical evidence remains essential: Sales growth depends on approved indications, treatment outcomes, safety, access and continued differentiation.
Celebrity Influence and GLP-1 Awareness
Celebrity discussions have increased public interest in GLP-1 drugs. Zocdoc reported a 42% rise in weight-loss appointments following celebrity announcements, while a global survey found that 22% of online GLP-1 buyers were influenced by celebrities or influencers.
In India, Mounjaro has gained attention for pre-wedding weight loss, with some users reporting losses of 10–15 kg. However, these medicines require medical supervision and should not be used solely for cosmetic weight loss.
Understanding drug sales is only one part of pharmaceutical strategy. Companies also need to evaluate clinical pipelines, competitors, pricing, regulatory developments, patent timelines and regional opportunities.
Towards Healthcare Research & Consulting provides pharmaceutical intelligence, strategic consulting, competitive analysis and customized dashboards to help life science companies, investors and healthcare decision-makers assess these factors.
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