The Global Pharmaceutical Sector: numbers and dynamics

Researchers from various fields of scientific knowledge have dedicated efforts to investigate the multiple characteristics of the pharmaceutical sector. Aiming to contribute to this debate and provide material for discussion, this research focused on collecting, interpreting, and making available data and information related to the Pharmaceutical Sector on a global scale. It was found that the sector's annual revenue has almost quadrupled over the last two decades, reaching $1.48 trillion in 2022. The twenty largest companies have a combined market value of $3.5 trillion, assets worth $1.86 trillion, and generated revenue of $820 billion, resulting in profits of $181.6 billion. Of an oligopolistic nature, most of the leading companies are concentrated in the USA and Europe, although a group of industries in "pharmerging countries", especially in Asia, has been gaining strength. Pharmaceutical consumption, although still highly concentrated in developed countries, has also been expanding in emerging countries. This trend is driven by nations such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS), as well as Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, and Turkey (MIST). Together, these nine countries already account for 48% of the world's population and contribute 31% to the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).