According to Forbes.com (3/22/06): “For the first time ever, global spending on prescription drugs has topped $600 billion, even as growth slowed in Europe and North America.”

Based upon figures compiled by IMS health, a pharmaceutical information and consulting company, worldwide sales of prescription medications rose 7% to $602 billion.

The top 10 prescription drugs in the world in 2005, with combined sales of $56.9 billion, were as follow:

1. LIPITOR – Pfizer – Treats high cholesterol: $12.9 billion
2. PLAVIX – Bristol-Meyers Squibb & Sanofi-Aventis – Treats heart disease $5.9 billion
3. NEXIUM – AstraZeneca – Treats heartburn: $5.7 billion
4. SERETIDE/ADVAIR DISKUS – GlaxoSmithKline – Treats asthma: $5.6 billion
5. ZOCOR – Merck –Treats high cholesterol: $5.3 billion
6. NORVASC – Pfizer – Treats high blood pressure: $5.0 billion
7. ZYPREXA – Eli Lilly – Treats: schizophrenia: $4.7 billion
8. RISPERDAL – Johnson & Johnson – Treats schizophrenia: $4.0 billion
9. PREVACID – Abbott & Takeda – Treats heartburn: $4.0 billion
10. EFFEXOR XR – Wyeth – Treats depression: $3.8 billion

This entry was posted on Friday, March 24th, 2006 at 8:20 am and is filed under Health Concerns.