Pharmaceutical Companies, Biotechnology, and Health Care

Abstract

Global pharmaceutical companies play an important role in the health care of consumers and development of new biotechnologies. With 2004 revenues totaling $550 billion, the 50 largest firms produce popular prescription drugs such as Lipitor, Zocor, and Plavix, and sponsor $38.8 billion in research and development. The bulk of pharmaceutical sales come from North America (48 percent of all global sales) and Europe (28 percent), but there also are significant revenues from Japan (11 percent), the rest of Asia (8 percent), Latin America (4 percent), and other regions (1 percent).¹