The top 10 selling drugs for the period July through September 2013 (Q3 2013) were Abilify, Nexium, Humira, Cymbalta, Crestor, Advair, Enbrel, Remicade, Neulasta, and Copaxone.
The best selling drug of all time was Lipitor.
1. Abilify (aripiprazole)
Abilify1 belongs to Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., a Japanese multinational.
Sales Q3 2013: $1.567 billion.
Abilify (aripiprazole) is an antipsychotic medication with antidepressant qualities. It has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and also depression when the main antidepressant is not effective enough (as an add-on treatment).
It is also prescribed to treat irritability in patients with autistic disorder aged 6+ years.
2. Nexium (esomeprazole)
Nexium2 belongs to AstraZeneca PLC., a British/Swedish multinational.
Sales Q3 2013: $1.525 billion.
Nexium (esomeprazole) is FDA-approved for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), often referred to as “reflux”, as well as other conditions with too much stomach acids, including Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Doctors also prescribe Nexium for healing damage to the esophagus caused by stomach acid (erosive esophagitis).
3. Humira (adalimumab)
Humira3 belongs to AbbVie, Inc., an American multinational.
Sales Q3 2013: $1.407 billion.
Humira (adalimumab) is FDA-approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
4. Cymbalta (duloxetine)
Cymbalta4 belongs to Eli Lilly and Company Inc., an American multinational.
Sales Q3 2013: $1.383 billion.
Cymbalta (duloxetine) is FDA-approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder (depression), chronic osteoarthritis pain, chronic low back pain, fibromyalgia, diabetic nerve pain, and generalized anxiety disorder.
5. Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium)
Crestor5 belongs to AstraZeneca PLC., a British/Swedish multinational.
Sales Q3 2013: $1.275 billion.
Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium), a statin, is FDA-approved for lowering cholesterol. According to the FDA, people who are prescribed cholesterol should also be on a special diet.
6. Advair (fluticasone/salmeterol)
Advair6 belongs to GlaxoSmithKline PLC., a British multinational.
Sales Q3 2013: $1.215 billion
Advair (fluticasone/salmeterol) is FDA approved for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although Advair lost patent protection in 2010, there is no generic equivalent in the US. Outside the US, pharmaceutical company Cipla makes and sells Seroflo, a generic form of Advair. Seroflo is not for sale in the US.
7. Enbrel (etanercept)
Enbrel7 belongs to Amgen Inc., an American multinational.
Sales Q3 2013: $1.172 billion.
Enbrel (etanercept) is FDA-approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis.
8. Remicade (infliximab)
Remicade8 belongs to Janssen Biotech, Inc., part of Johnson & Johnson, an American multinational.
Sales Q3 2013: $1.021 billion.
Remicade (infliximab) is FDA-approved for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease and psoriasis.
9. Neulasta (pegfilgrastim)
Neulasta9 belongs to Amgen Inc., an American multinational.
Sales Q3 2013: $0.898 billion.
Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) is FDA-approved for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy who need to boost their number of infection-fighting white blood cells.
10. Copaxone (glatiramer acetate)
Copaxone10 belongs to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., an Israeli multinational.
Sales Q3 2013: $0.893 billion.
Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) is FDA-approved for treating patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). It reduces the frequency of relapses.
Three of the top 10 selling drugs worldwide are for treating arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
Lipitor was among the top 10 selling drugs for a long time
Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium), a statin, was among the top 10 selling drugs for many years. In 2006 sales reached $13.696 billion, a record.
News reported by Market Business News on blockbuster drugs:
Among the new medications launched in 2014, Sovaldi, Anoro Ellipta and Idelalisib were tipped by Thompson Reuters has having the best blockbuster potential.