15 Biggest European Pharmaceutical Companies

In this piece, we will take a look at the 15 biggest European pharmaceutical companies.

Alongside the United States, Europe has some of the most advanced industries and economies in the world. While the Americans are rightly credited with having pioneered the modern day semiconductor, other industries have had their origins in Europe. Just as the first jet engine and the automotive were being thought of and developed in the U.S., their counterparts were also being developed in Europe.

The pharmaceutical sector is another such industry that sees the U.S. and Europe compete in technological advancements. The European pharmaceutical industry was worth $283 billion in 2020, and from then until 2028 it will grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% to sit at $432 billion by the end of the forecast period, as per the research firm Grand View Market Research. This growth will also see the pharma sector recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which led to fewer diagnoses and prescription medicine uptake. Other factors driving European growth include the adoption of technology and artificial intelligence throughout the drug industry supply chain, as well as the growing role of hospitals in the healthcare ecosystems as they improve their facilities and develop specialized resources for advanced diseases such as cancer.

Another report, this time from Medgadget, analyses the European pharmaceutical drugs market. This market consists primarily of prescription and over-the-counter drugs and excludes other healthcare options such as vaccines and biotechnological research. The research firm estimates that this market was worth $220 billion in 2019 and it will grow at a 4.5% CAGR until 2027. Patents expiring for core drugs will play a major role in this growth, as more companies are able to manufacture and sell generic products. Additionally, the growth in chronic diseases, such as diabetes, will increase the demand for branded and generic drugs.

Today’s piece will look at the top European pharmaceutical firms, out of which the largest companies are AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN), Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO), and Roche Holding AG (SWX:ROG.SW).

Pixabay/Public Domain

Our Methodology

We studied the European healthcare industry to identify which firms are operating in the pharma sector. These were then ranked according to their latest market capitalization.

Biggest European Pharmaceutical Companies

15. Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ)

Market Capitalization as of November 22, 2022: $9.27 billion

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ) is an Irish company that develops treatments for several diseases such as sleep disorders, cancers, leukemia, and tumors. It is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ)’s fiscal third quarter saw the firm grow its revenue by 12% annually and post $930 million in operating cash flow. The firm is aiming to generate $5 billion in revenue by 2025, and secure at least 5 product approvals by the end of this decade.

Insider Monkey’s Q3 2022 survey of 920 hedge funds revealed that 43 had invested in Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ). Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ)’s largest shareholder is Bernard Horn’s Polaris Capital Management, which owns 1.4 million shares that are worth $195 million.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ) is one of Europe’s biggest pharmaceutical companies, alongside others such as Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO), AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN), and Roche Holding AG (SWX:ROG.SW).

14. Vifor Pharma AG (SWX:VIFN.SW)

Market Capitalization as of November 22, 2022: $11.6 billion (1CHF = 1.05USD)

Vifor Pharma AG (SWX:VIFN.SW) is a Swiss pharmaceutical company that develops treatments for iron deficiency, heart patients, and rare renal diseases. It is based in Sankt Gallen, Switzerland.

Vifor Pharma AG (SWX:VIFN.SW) reported 1.1 billion CHF in revenue during the fiscal year 2021, which translated into 282 million CHF in operating profit and 263 million CHF in net income. The Vifor Pharma Group’s net sales grew by 2.8% during the year, with the gross profit margin improving to 63.2%.

Vifor Pharma AG (SWX:VIFN.SW)’s latest market capitalization is $11.6 billion.

13. Horizon Therapeutics Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:HZNP)

Market Capitalization as of November 22, 2022: $17.4 billion

Horizon Therapeutics Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:HZNP) is a German pharmaceutical company. It develops treatments for autoimmune and inflationary diseases.

Horizon Therapeutics Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:HZNP) beat analyst revenue and EPS estimates during its third fiscal quarter as it reported $924 million in revenue, which allowed the company to raise its 2022 revenue guidance to a high end of $3.61 billion.

54 out of the 920 hedge funds polled by Insider Monkey during this year’s third quarter had invested in Horizon Therapeutics Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:HZNP). Horizon Therapeutics Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:HZNP)’s largest investor is John Paulson’s Paulson & Co, which owns 6 million shares that are worth $377 million.

12. Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX)

Market Capitalization as of November 22, 2022: $19.2 billion

Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX) is a British firm headquartered in New York that buys royalties and funds drug development in the United States.

Despite the bloodbath in the healthcare sector this year, Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX)’s shares have bucked the market trend and are up by 3.56% over the year. The firm bought a royalty interest in an mRNA cardiovascular disease prevention drug for $250 million in cash and $160 million in additional payments in November 2022.

Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX)’s market capitalization is $19.2 billion, and 29 out of the 920 hedge funds part of Insider Monkey’s study for this year’s third quarter had invested in it. Andreas Halvorsen’s Viking Global is Royalty Pharma plc (NASDAQ:RPRX)’s largest investor through a $437 million stake that comes via 10 million shares.

11. argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX)

Market Capitalization as of November 22, 2022: $20.7 billion

argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX) is a Dutch company that is headquartered in Breda, the Netherlands. The firm develops treatments for polyneuropathy, hematological cancer, airway inflammation, and other autoimmune diseases.

argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX) generated $147 million in revenue during its third fiscal quarter, which beat Wall Street estimates by $29 million. The firm’s shares have been performing strongly this year, and are up by 5.9% year to date, making most of their gains during the second half. Additionally, argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX) is also on track to receive results from three crucial drug trials next year, which could potentially add more fortune to its future.

36 out of the 920 hedge funds polled by Insider Monkey for their Q3 2022 portfolios had invested in argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX). argenx SE (NASDAQ:ARGX)’s largest shareholder is Kurt Von Emster’s VenBio Select Advisor, which owns 1.2 million shares worth $446 million.

10. Genmab A/S (NASDAQ:GMAB)

Market Capitalization as of November 22, 2022: $28.7 billion

Genmab A/S (NASDAQ:GMAB) is a Danish company whose treatments target multiple sclerosis, leukemia, myeloma, solid tumors, and atrophy diseases. It is based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Genmab A/S (NASDAQ:GMAB)’s Darzalex drug, which is currently part of a partnership with the pharma giant J&J, generated $6 billion in sales last year and $1.85 billion in the first quarter of this year. Furthermore, the drug is estimated to rake in up to $8 billion in sales this year, to bring Genmab A/S (NASDAQ:GMAB) a cool $1.1 billion – $1.2 billion in royalties.

By the end of this year’s third quarter, 12 out of the 920 hedge funds part of Insider Monkey’s research had bought Genmab A/S (NASDAQ:GMAB)’s shares. Out of these funds, Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke, and John Campbell’s Arrowstreet Capital is Genmab A/S (NASDAQ:GMAB)’s largest investor. It owns 1.4 million shares that are worth $47 million.

9. Lonza Group AG (SWX:LONN.SW)

Market Capitalization as of November 22, 2022: $38 billion (1CHF = 1.05USD)

Lonza Group AG (SWX:LONN.SW) is an equipment firm that provides products and services for biopharmaceutical development. These enable biopharmaceutical and small molecule drug manufacturing. The firm is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.

Lonza Group AG (SWX:LONN.SW)’s four business segments have performed well this year. The firm’s Biologics segment has grown sales by 26% for this year’s first half, the Small Molecules division has improved margins to 29% despite the current inflationary wave, the Cell & Gene segment has grown sales by 23%, and Capsule and Health Ingredients have grown by 4% annually as of the first half of 2022.

Lonza Group AG (SWX:LONN.SW)’s latest market capitalization is $38 billion.

8. BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX)

Market Capitalization as of November 22, 2022: $38.5 billion (1CHF = 1.05USD)

BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) is a German biotechnology company. It develops treatments for melanoma, prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and lung cancer, among others. It is based in Mainz, Germany.

BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX)’s coronavirus vaccine, made in partnership with Pfizer, has continued to evolve with the pandemic. The latest variant is the bivalent vaccine, and according to data shared by the company in November 2022, this version can grow anti-virus antibodies by as much as 11.1x, significantly higher than the original vaccine’s 2.3x.

Insider Monkey took a look at 920 hedge fund portfolios for their third quarter of 2022 investments and discovered that 18 had held a stake in BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX). BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX)’s largest shareholder is Philippe Laffont’s Coatue Management, which owns 421,590 shares that are worth $56 million.

7. Bayer Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:BAYZF)

Market Capitalization as of November 22, 2022: $54.8 billion

Bayer Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:BAYZF) is a German pharmaceutical giant. It is one of the oldest companies in the world, after being set up in 1863, and is headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany.

Bayer Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:BAYZF)’s management has strong growth estimates for the firm’s upcoming years. It expects to grow pharmaceutical sales between 3% and 5% until the end of 2023, alongside similar growth estimates for its other two segments – namely Consumer Health and Crop Sciences. The firm delivered 18% annual revenue growth during its second fiscal quarter.

Bayer Aktiengesellschaft (OTCMKTS:BAYZF) has a $54.8 billion market capitalization.

6. GSK plc (NYSE:GSK)

Market Capitalization as of November 22, 2022: $67.8 billion

GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) is a British biotechnology and pharmaceutical firm. It enables the development of treatments for HIV, cancer, the nervous system, and other disorders.

GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) presented investors with a nice surprise during its third fiscal quarter earnings when it raised its 2022 revenue growth guidance to 8% – 10% from an earlier 6% – 8%. For the first three quarters of this year, the firm’s revenue has grown 19% annually on a constant currency basis. What’s more, well, GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) also aims to grow its operating margin to 15% – 17% from an earlier 13% – 15%.

Insider Monkey’s Q3 2022 survey of 920 hedge funds revealed that 37 had held a stake in GSK plc (NYSE:GSK). GSK plc (NYSE:GSK)’s largest investor is Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management, which owns 12 million shares worth $358 million.

AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN), Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO), Roche Holding AG (SWX:ROG.SW), and GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) are some of the biggest European pharmaceutical companies.

5. MERCK Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien (XETRA:MRK.DE)

Market Capitalization as of November 22, 2022: $76 billion

MERCK Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien (XETRA:MRK.DE) is a German company that develops drugs for cancer, neurology, cardiology, and other diseases. It is headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany.

MERCK Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien (XETRA:MRK.DE)’s shares are by 39% year-to-date, as the firm leverages the aftermath of the pandemic since the bulk of its sales is tied to physician and patient interactions that dropped during the coronavirus pandemic. The firm has also been performing well this year, with its revenue growing by 50%, 28%, and 14% during the first three quarters of 2022, respectively.

MERCK Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien (XETRA:MRK.DE) has a $76 billion market capitalization.

4. Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY)

Market Capitalization as of November 22, 2022: $113 billion

Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY) is a French company that develops pharmaceuticals, therapies, and consumer health products. It is headquartered in Paris, France.

Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY) has been on a roll this year when it comes to regulatory authorizations. The firm’s hemolytic anemia drug Enjaymo received the European Commission’s marketing authorization in November 2022. This approval came a week after the European Medicines Agency recommended an expanded approval of Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY)’s Iscover and Plavix heart disease therapies.

31 out of the 920 hedge funds polled by Insider Monkey during this year’s third quarter had held a stake in Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY). Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY)’s largest investor is Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management, which owns 13.9 million shares worth $531 million.

3. AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

Market Capitalization as of November 22, 2022: $201 billion

AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) is a British firm that develops pharmaceutical products. These include drugs for influenza, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obesity, and other diseases. The firm is based in Cambridge, the United Kingdom.

AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) raked in a whopping $10.7 billion in revenue during its second fiscal quarter, which marked a strong 31% annual growth. Out of this, $3.7 billion was contributed by the firm’s cancer drug portfolio. As if this weren’t enough, AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)’s third quarter saw it bring in another $11 billion in revenue, which led to the total revenue for the first three quarters sitting at a massive $33 billion, representing 37% annual growth.

Insider Monkey studied 920 hedge fund portfolios for Q3 2022 to discover that 44 funds had bought AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)’s shares. Out of these funds, Rajiv Jain’s GQG Partners is AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)’s largest shareholder. It owns 18 million shares that are worth $1 billion.

2. Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO)

Market Capitalization as of November 22, 2022: $257 billion

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) is a Danish healthcare company. It offers treatments for obesity, diabetes, growth disorders, and haemophilia, among others.

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) announced in November 2022 that it will spend DKK5.4 billion to expand its drug production in Denmark. The facility will be up by 2024, and it will provide active pharmaceutical ingredients for the firm’s clinical trials. Research firm GlobalData expects that Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO)’s diabetes treatments grew their sales by 44% annually for the first three quarters of this year.

By the end of this year’s third quarter, 40 out of the 920 hedge funds part of Insider Monkey’s research had bought Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO)’s shares. Jim Simons’ Renaissance Technologies is Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO)’s largest investor. It owns 15 million shares worth $1.5 billion.

1. Roche Holding AG (SWX:ROG.SW)

Market Capitalization as of November 22, 2022: $266 billion (1CHF = 1.05USD)

Roche Holding AG (SWX:ROG.SW) is a Swiss company that provides treatments for cancer, neuro disorders, infectious diseases, and inflammatory diseases, among others. The firm is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.

Roche Holding AG (SWX:ROG.SW) continued its growth trajectory for the first three quarters of this year, despite the fact that coronavirus sales have been slowing down of late. The firm’s year-to-date revenue is CHF 47 billion, which marks a small 2% growth. The firm’s diagnostics division led this growth, as it increased revenues by 6% to stand at CHF 13.8 billion.

Roche Holding AG (SWX:ROG.SW) has a $266 billion market capitalization.

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Disclosure: None. 15 Biggest European Pharmaceutical Companies is originally published on Insider Monkey.