Tag: Blockbuster drugs

Based on 2024 sales figures, Merck's Keytruda, a powerful immuno-oncology drug, was what's the highest selling drug globally, solidifying its position as a monumental cancer treatment. However, the dynamic pharmaceutical market continues to shift, with the surging success of diabetes and weight-loss medications like Ozempic poised to challenge for the top spot in 2025.

In 2024, Merck's immuno-oncology therapy Keytruda generated nearly $29.5 billion in sales, securing its position as the highest selling drug worldwide. The pharmaceutical landscape is highly dynamic, with new therapies and shifting demands constantly reshuffling the top ranks.

With 2024 sales of nearly $29.5 billion, Merck's cancer immunotherapy drug Keytruda has solidified its market dominance [1.3.3]. So, what is the world's best selling drug and how does it compare to its closest competitors in the dynamic pharmaceutical landscape?

With global sales reaching nearly $29.5 billion in 2024, Merck's Keytruda has firmly held its position as the top earner in the pharmaceutical industry, making it the answer to the question: **What is the highest selling drug in the world?**. This cancer immunotherapy's continued success showcases the immense market power of advanced oncology treatments, especially as older blockbusters face new market dynamics.

In 2024, the global pharmaceutical market saw the top 50 best-selling drugs generate over $116 billion in revenue. Answering the question, 'What are the top 3 drugs used worldwide?', requires clarity, as the most widely used medicines by volume (often cheap generics) differ significantly from the most profitable ones by sales revenue. Based on 2024 revenue, the pharmaceutical market's top three blockbuster drugs are Merck's Keytruda, Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, and Bristol Myers Squibb/Pfizer's Eliquis.

The global AI in drug discovery market was valued at $1.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to soar to $20.30 billion by 2030 [1.9.5]. This explosion in technology is accelerating the hunt for the answer to the question: **what is the next big drug?**

AbbVie's Humira has generated approximately $240 billion in revenue since its launch, making it the highest-grossing drug of all time [1.4.3]. However, the title of 'fastest-selling' is more complex, pitting launch speed against total lifetime sales.

In 2024, Merck's cancer therapy Keytruda topped the revenue charts with nearly $29.5 billion in sales, while the generic drug atorvastatin was prescribed millions of times, illustrating that the answer to 'What is the most sold drug in the US?' depends entirely on the metric used. The market is sharply divided between high-cost, high-revenue specialty drugs and low-cost, high-volume generic medications that fill the majority of prescriptions.