MIDAS, 2016). They equate to 18% of all biologic sales in Pharmerging markets (countries having low positions in the pharmaceutical market but having rapid pace of growth) and are growing at almost twice the speed. However, the biosimilar regulatory environment in the emerging markets is changing rapidly. There has been a marked push for increasing quality of copy biologic medicines but increasing access and affordability will continue be the top priorities for policy makers.24
2.9 Top 10 Biologic Drugs in the United States
The 10 drugs on the list all have exceeded the monetary definition of a “blockbuster,” which designates a drug as having generated more than US$1 billion in annual sales.25 Figures are based on 2018 sales data reported by the respective manufacturers for revenues generated in 2017.
2.9.1 Humira ®
The anti‐inflammatory drug Humira® is not only the best‐selling biologic; it is one of the best‐selling drugs worldwide, regardless of class.
Indications: Rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Manufacturer: AbbVie, an Abbott Laboratories spinoff
Global Sales in 2017: $18.4 billion
Generic name: Adalimumab
Launch date: 2002
2.9.2 Rituxan ®
Rituxan® (rituximab) was developed by IDEC Pharmaceuticals under the name IDEC‐C2B8. Rituxan® is currently co‐marketed in the United States by Biogen Idec and Roche subsidiary Genentech.
Indication: Non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis
Manufacturer: Roche
Global Sales in 2017: $9.2 billion
Generic name: Rituximab
Launch date: 1997
2.9.3 Enbrel ®
Enbrel® was developed by researchers at Immunex. Today the drug is co‐marketed in North America by Amgen and Pfizer, by Takeda Pharmaceuticals in Japan, and by Wyeth in the rest of the world.
Indication: Rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis
Manufacturer: Pfizer/Amgen
Global Sales in 2017: $7.9 billion
Generic name: Etanercept
Launch date: 1998
2.9.4 Herceptin ®
Herceptin® was developed by Genentech, now a Roche subsidiary, and UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Indication: HER2+ breast cancer
Manufacturer: Roche
Global Sales in 2017: $7.4 billion
Generic name: Trastuzumab
Launch date: 1998
2.9.5 Avastin ®
When launched in 2004, Genentech's Avastin® was one of the most expensive drugs on the market, with a US$4400 monthly price tag.
Indication: Breast, colorectal, kidney, non‐small‐cell lung, glioblastoma, ovarian cancers
Manufacturer: Roche
Global Sales in 2017: US$7.1 billion
Generic name: Bevacizumab
Launch date: 2004
2.9.6 Remicade ®
Remicade® was originally developed by Centocor Ortho Biotech, which is now Janssen Biotech, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary.
Indications: Rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, ulcerative colitis
Manufacturer: Johnson & Johnson/Merck & Co.
Global Sales in 2017: US$7.1 billion
Generic name: Infliximab
Launch date: 1998
2.9.7 Lantus ®
Lantus® was developed at Sanofi‐Aventis's biotechnology research center in Frankfurt‐Höchst, Germany.
Indication: Diabetes
Manufacturer: Sanofi
Global Sales in 2017: US$5.7 billion
Generic name: Insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection
Launch date: 2000
2.9.8 Neulasta ®
Neulasta® is pegylated version of Neupogen® launched by Amgen in 2002, with extended half‐life, which allows for administration as a single dose per chemotherapy cycle compared with daily dosing with Amgen's Neupogen®, for reducing the incidence of infection, as manifested by febrile neutropenia in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies who are receiving myelosuppressive drugs.
Indication: Neutropenia related to cancer chemotherapy
Manufacturer: Amgen
Global Sales in 2017: US$4.7 billion
Generic name: Pegfilgrastim
Launch date: 2002
2.9.9 Avonex ®
Avonex® is marketed in the United States by Biogen Idec and by Merck under the brand name Rebif®. Gemany's
