| Company | Headquarter | Annual Revenue (2023, in Billion USD) | Year |
| Novo Nordisk | Bagsværd, Denmark | 73.2 | 1923 |
| Sanofi | Paris, France | 43.7 | 2004 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | Indianapolis, Indiana, USA | 33.0 | 1876 |
| Merck & Co | Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA | 59.3 | 1891 |
| AstraZeneca | Cambridge, UK | 44.5 | 1999 |
| Boehringer Ingelheim | Ingelheim, Germany | 26.7 | 1885 |
| Novartis | Basel, Switzerland | 55.1 | 1996 |
| Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) | New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA | 94.9 | 1886 |
| Pfizer | New York City, New York, USA | 66.4 | 1849 |
Headquarters: Bagsværd, Denmark
Established: 1923
Novo Nordisk is a global leader in diabetes care, hormone replacement therapy, and hemophilia treatments. It is known for pioneering insulin therapies and expanding its portfolio into obesity treatments.
Insulin: NovoLog, Levemir, Tresiba
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: Ozempic, Wegovy
Growth Hormone Therapy: Norditropin
Hemophilia Treatments: NovoSeven
Novo Nordisk is the world leader in diabetes treatment, with its flagship product being insulin.
They are pioneering innovative treatments for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, addressing unmet needs in the diabetic population.
The company’s dedication to improving access to insulin globally is reflected in its extensive charitable programs.
The company has expanded into hormone replacement therapy, particularly growth hormone treatment, helping children with growth deficiencies.
Beyond diabetes, Novo Nordisk is growing its portfolio in the treatment of obesity, with Wegovy and Ozempic as key products.
Novo Nordisk’s commitment to research and development in diabetes care has made insulin accessible for millions of patients worldwide.
Revenue from diabetes care constitutes the bulk of Novo Nordisk's earnings, which exceeded $73 billion in 2023.
Headquarters: Paris, France
Established: 2004
Sanofi is a global healthcare leader focusing on immunology, oncology, diabetes, and rare diseases. The company is also renowned for its vaccines and treatments for various chronic conditions.
Vaccines: FluQuadri, Menactra
Oncology: Libtayo
Diabetes Treatments: Lantus, Toujeo
Rare Disease Treatments: Cerdelga, Kanuma
Sanofi is a leader in vaccine innovation, particularly in areas like flu and meningitis.
Their vaccines, such as the FluQuadri and Menactra, have a significant global presence.
Sanofi is also strengthening its role in immunology, especially autoimmune disease treatments like Dupixent.
In 2020, Sanofi acquired the biotech company Principia Biopharma, which allowed it to enhance its immunology pipeline.
Their acquisition strategy reflects an increased focus on rare diseases and specialty care.
Sanofi has committed to improving global access to essential medicines, including for diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.
Their innovative pricing models in emerging markets aim to make their treatments more accessible.
Headquarters: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Established: 1876
Eli Lilly is a leader in diabetes, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience, with a strong R&D presence and innovative therapies in these therapeutic areas.
Insulin: Humalog, Humulin
Oncology Treatments: Alimta, Cyramza
Immunology Drugs: Taltz, Olumiant
Osteoporosis Treatments: Forteo, Evista
Eli Lilly has long been a leader in the diabetes space with Humalog, the world’s first rapid-acting insulin, which revolutionized diabetes care.
The launch of Mounjaro (tirzepatide), a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, marks a major leap in diabetes treatment and weight loss.
Eli Lilly is increasingly focusing on oncology, with breakthrough cancer drugs like Alimta, a treatment for lung cancer.
Their oncology research aims to target cancer at the molecular level, driving personalized medicine.
Eli Lilly is enhancing its portfolio through partnerships with biotech companies like Dermira for dermatology treatments.
Their acquisition of Loxo Oncology in 2019 positioned them as a leader in precision medicine for cancer.
Headquarters: Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
Established: 1891
Merck is a global leader in oncology, vaccines, infectious diseases, and diabetes treatments. It is also renowned for its immuno-oncology research, particularly its Keytruda therapy.
Keytruda: Cancer immunotherapy
Gardasil: HPV vaccine
Januvia: Diabetes medication
Bridion: Reversal agent for neuromuscular blockade
Zostavax: Shingles vaccine
Merck’s Keytruda, a PD-1 inhibitor, has revolutionized cancer treatment and is a frontrunner in immuno-oncology.
The company is a leader in the immuno-oncology field, focusing on treatments for melanoma, lung cancer, and other solid tumors.
Merck is at the forefront of developing vaccines with its pioneering work on the Gardasil HPV vaccine.
The company also plays a major role in preventing and treating infectious diseases with vaccines for diseases like rotavirus and shingles.
Merck has partnered with companies like Moderna to explore mRNA technology for cancer vaccines.
Their collaboration with Icosavax aims to bring forth innovative vaccines for respiratory diseases.
Headquarters: Cambridge, UK
Established: 1999
AstraZeneca is a leading global pharmaceutical company specializing in oncology, cardiovascular, respiratory diseases, and vaccines. The company is committed to providing innovative therapies.
Tagrisso: Oncology (lung cancer)
Symbicort: Respiratory (COPD and asthma)
Brilinta: Cardiovascular (antiplatelet therapy)
Vaxzevria: COVID-19 vaccine
AstraZeneca is known for its groundbreaking work in oncology, with therapies like Tagrisso and Lynparza for lung and ovarian cancers.
The company is a pioneer in precision medicine, offering targeted therapies based on genetic profiles.
AstraZeneca gained global recognition for its role in developing and distributing a COVID-19 vaccine in partnership with Oxford University.
The company demonstrated agility by scaling up production and ensuring equitable distribution in low-income countries.
AstraZeneca’s drug pipeline spans oncology, cardiovascular, respiratory diseases, and immunology.
Their commitment to addressing unmet medical needs is reflected in the expansion of drugs like Farxiga, which targets heart failure and chronic kidney disease.
Headquarters: Ingelheim, Germany
Established: 1885
Boehringer Ingelheim focuses on human pharmaceuticals, animal health, and biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing. The company is a leader in respiratory diseases and heart failure.
Spiriva: COPD treatment
Pradaxa: Blood thinner
Jardiance: Diabetes and cardiovascular treatment
Boehringer Ingelheim is known for its deep commitment to human pharmaceuticals, particularly in respiratory diseases, cardiovascular treatments, and oncology.
Their blockbuster drug, Spiriva, is one of the leading treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The company has a strong presence in animal health, providing treatments for livestock and pets, alongside its human health business.
Boehringer Ingelheim is also advancing biopharmaceuticals, with significant investments in biomanufacturing and contract services.
As key patents expire, Boehringer faces increasing competition from generic drug manufacturers, especially for products like Spiriva.
The company is focusing on maintaining its market leadership by driving innovation and increasing global accessibility to its treatments.
Headquarters: Basel, Switzerland
Established: 1996
Novartis is a global healthcare company, known for its leadership in oncology, generics, and eye care. It has a strong pipeline focused on both small molecules and biologics.
Gleevec: Oncology (cancer treatment)
Cosentyx: Immunology (autoimmune diseases)
Lucentis: Eye care (AMD treatment)
Novartis has a dominant position in the ophthalmology space with its market-leading eye care product, Lucentis, used for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Their commitment to advancing vision care is reflected in their acquisition of Alcon, a global leader in eye care products.
Novartis is expanding its immunology and neuroscience portfolios, with products like Cosentyx for autoimmune diseases and Aimovig for migraine prevention.
The company’s focus on biologics is aimed at providing innovative solutions for chronic conditions.
Novartis is embracing digital technologies and artificial intelligence in drug discovery and development.
Their collaboration with Microsoft to integrate AI into clinical research aims to improve efficiencies and accelerate drug development timelines.
Headquarters: New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
Established: 1886
J&J operates in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer health. Their pharmaceuticals division, Janssen, is known for its treatments in immunology, oncology, and neuroscience.
Remicade: Immunology (autoimmune diseases)
Stelara: Immunology (autoimmune diseases)
Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine: Vaccine
Johnson & Johnson has a unique position in the healthcare sector, being a dominant player in medical devices and consumer health products.
Their MedTech division has innovations like the Ethicon surgical devices and Biosense Webster electrophysiology products.
Janssen, the pharmaceutical arm, focuses on immunology with treatments like Remicade and Stelara for autoimmune diseases and Imbruvica for blood cancers.
The company’s oncology portfolio includes drugs for multiple myeloma, leukemia, and other cancers.
J&J has made considerable investments in healthcare access, especially in low-income countries, through its commitment to the Global Health program.
They also launched a COVID-19 vaccine, which played a significant role in pandemic mitigation efforts.
Headquarters: New York City, New York, USA
Established: 1849
Pfizer is a global leader in vaccines, oncology, and biotechnology, known for its COVID-19 vaccine development with BioNTech.
Comirnaty: COVID-19 vaccine
Ibrance: Oncology (breast cancer treatment)
Xeljanz: Immunology (rheumatoid arthritis)
Pfizer made headlines for its successful COVID-19 vaccine, developed in collaboration with BioNTech, which became the global standard for pandemic prevention.
The company continues to lead the way in vaccine development, exploring further applications of mRNA technology.
Pfizer is expanding in oncology, with new cancer treatments such as Ibrance, for breast cancer, and Braftovi, for melanoma.
The company’s focus on biologics in oncology is complemented by their extensive research into gene therapies.
Pfizer has made substantial investments in expanding access to its medications in developing countries, providing low-cost treatments for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
Their global health initiatives are backed by programs that aim to provide affordable medications and vaccines.
Headquarters: Basel, Switzerland
Established: 1896
Roche is a leader in biotechnology and diagnostics, with a focus on oncology, immunology, and personalized medicine.
Herceptin: Oncology (breast cancer treatment)
Avastin: Oncology (cancer treatment)
Actemra: Immunology (autoimmune diseases)
Roche is a leader in personalized medicine, particularly with its cutting-edge diagnostic tools like Foundation Medicine, which tailors cancer treatments based on genetic profiles.
The company is pioneering treatments in oncology and is expanding its focus on precision medicine.
Roche’s immuno-oncology products, like Tecentriq, have shown promise in the treatment of multiple cancers, including lung, bladder, and breast cancer.
The company is heavily investing in combination therapies to enhance cancer treatments.
Roche’s Diagnostics division is a global leader in medical diagnostics, providing critical testing tools for conditions like COVID-19 and HIV.
The company’s diagnostic products are integral to the clinical decision-making process in hospitals worldwide.
The global diabetes medicines market size is calculated at US$ 109.38 billion in 2024, grew to US$ 121.69 billion in 2025, and is projected to reach around US$ 326.37 billion by 2034. The market is expanding at a CAGR of 11.24% between 2025 and 2034.
Growing Demands: Due to the growing diabetes burden, there is a rise in the demand for advanced or personalized medications. This is increasing the collaborations among the companies to enhance their R&D. Moreover, these collaborations are also contributing to the joint use of advanced technologies to accelerate their development.
For instance,
The R&D of diabetes medicine focuses on discovering new drug targets, developing novel treatment options, and enhancing their action.
Key Players: Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, and Sanofi.
The product integrity, patient safety, packaging with a unique serial number, trace and track systems, and temperature-controlled packing are provided in the packaging and serialization of the diabetes medicines.
Key Players: Gerresheimer AG, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), West Pharmaceutical Services, SCOTT Pharma.
Educational programs focusing on patient progress, self-management, financial assistance, and the use of telehealth, along with other tools for remote monitoring, are provided in the patient support and services of diabetes medicine.
Key Players: Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Novartis, and Lupin.
In August 2025, after announcing the collaboration with Novo Nordisk, the CEO of BioMed X, Dr. Christian Tidona, stated that a notable impact would be observed in the lives of the patients by developing orally available peptide drugs, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, using new formulation technologies. Moreover, they are confident that they can propel innovation in oral formulation technologies with Novo Nordisk and their unique global crowdsourcing approach.
