Top 10 Generic Pharmaceutical Companies In 2017

The top 10 generic pharmaceutical companies in 2017 operate in the relatively recession-proof pharmaceuticals industry which is immune from the vagaries of economic cycles. The huge R&D expense and expertise required to develop new medicines is a big entry barrier and the patent laws allow pharmaceuticals companies to make monopolistic profits for a new product for long periods of times.

Healthcare has made rapid strides over the last few decades. Still, many people throughout the world do not have access to good health because they cannot afford expensive medicines. Branded drugs are more expensive because they are newer, innovative and typically for difficult conditions. However, with the passage of time, these original medicines become generic. Generic drugs are copies of branded drugs bioequivalent to the brand drug, i.e. having the same quality, strength, purity and stability.

 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that generic drugs be as safe and effective as brand-name drugs. Generic drugs tend to be cheaper because the manufacturers do not incur any developing or marketing expenses. The healthcare professionals around the world also trust these products and regard them as a symbol of affordable and high-quality medications.

The healthcare sector has a bright future both in developed as well as developing countries. A fast aging population in Asian countries, the USA and Europe is the major demand driver in developed nations while improving affordability in developing nations like India should increase demand for the generic pharmaceutical products.

Most of the top 10 generic pharmaceutical companies in 2017 are Indian pharmaceutical companies. The country has become the largest provider of generic medicines globally and is also expected to expand going forward. The main reason why the country has prospered is due to its low cost of production which gives a competitive edge over the other countries.

However, the generic industry in the U.S. is rapidly changing. With the US Food and Drug Administration now speeding up the process of product approval, a higher number of generic drugs are now available at reasonable prices. Industry experts are expecting that generic drug makers will feel the pressure amid declining prices. This has also led to an increased level of competition.

Starting on the next page, we have listed the top 10 generic pharmaceutical companies in 2017 using various sources, like Pharmaceutical Tehnology.com and FiercePharma.com. These are then ranked on the basis of their revenues for the last 12-month period.

Head to the next page to begin the list!

10. Aurobindo Pharma

Annual Revenue – $2.1 billion

Founded in 1986, Aurobindo Pharma today has evolved into a knowledge driven company manufacturing active pharmaceutical ingredients and formulation products. It is amongst the top 10 companies in India in terms of consolidated revenues.  The company exports to over 125 countries across the globe with more than 70% of its revenues derived out of international operations. It has a presence in key therapeutic segments such as neurosciences, cardiovascular, anti-retrovirals, anti-diabetics, gastroenterology and cephalosporins.

9. Dr.Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:RDY)

Annual Revenue – $2.17 billion

Dr.Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:RDY) is an Indian multinational pharmaceutical company founded in 1984. The company owns a huge and diverse portfolio of generics, over-the-counter, APIs, biologics, and other proprietary products and services. It has a presence in over 20 countries with products spanning across major therapeutic categories including gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, pain management, oncology, anti-infectives, pediatrics, and dermatology. It offers more than 200 high-quality generic medicines at a fraction of the cost in over 80 countries around the world.

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8. Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Annual Revenue – $2.55 billion

Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lupin Limited, which is one of the top five pharmaceutical companies in India. It is among the world’s largest manufacturers of products in few of therapeutic areas. The company entered the U.S. generic pharmaceutical market in 2003 and has today become one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. Its vertically integrated structure provides a portfolio of the highest quality generic products. It also operates a globally integrated network of 11 manufacturing facilities.

7. Aspen

Annual Revenue – $2.79 billion

Aspen Pharmacare is the leading global manufacturer of generic ARVs, and known for launching Aspen Stavudine, the first generic ARV drug developed and manufactured in Africa. The multinational South African company produces over 24 billion tablets annually in 25 manufacturing facilities and is also a leading provider of anesthetics products worldwide. Its products are sold in 150 countries worldwide with Europe and Asia Pacific being its largest markets.

6. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Annual Revenue – $4.9 billion

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. is the largest drug maker in India commanding 8.5% of the Indian drug industry. The company is also the fourth largest specialty generic pharmaceutical company in the world. Sun Pharma has over 2,000 marketed products and serves more than 150 markets like the U.S., Europe, and key high-growth emerging markets like Russia, Romania, South Africa, Brazil and Malaysia. Sun Pharma derives ~40% of its total revenues from the U.S. markets.

5. Sandoz

Annual Revenue – $10.1 billion

Next in line in the list of top 10 generic pharmaceutical companies in 2017 is Sandoz, a division of the Novartis Group. Sandoz is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars. It was formed in 2003 by the combination of all of Novartis’ generics businesses. But Sandoz’ anti-infectives and biosimilars businesses can trace their origins back to the work done in the 1940s and 1950. The company offers nearly 1,000 molecules covering a broad range of therapeutic areas. Sandoz currently is the world’s second largest producer of antibiotics.

4. Mylan N.V. (NASDAQ:MYL)

Annual Revenue – $11.08 billion

Mylan N.V. (NASDAQ:MYL) is a global healthcare company focused on making high quality and affordable medicines. The company has a history of generic pharmaceuticals dating back to 1961. The company’s broad and diverse portfolio consists of 7,500 marketed products including prescription generic and brand-name medicines, and consumer healthcare products. Mylan N.V. (NASDAQ:MYL)’s products can be found in more than 165 countries and territories and are produced in 50 plants worldwide. With revenues of over $11 billion, Mylan N.V. (NASDAQ:MYL) ranks fifth on our list of top 10 generic pharmaceutical companies in 2017.

3. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:TEVA)

Annual Revenue – $21.9 billion

On the third spot among the top 10 generic pharmaceutical companies in 2017 is  Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:TEVA) . Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:TEVA) is the No.1 in generics worldwide with one in every six prescriptions in the U.S. filled with Teva products. The company produces 120 billion tablets and capsules each year. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:TEVA) has a global presence with operations in 100 countries worldwide and enjoys a top 3 position in 40 markets around the world. Specialty R&D, generics knowledge and portfolio and a vast geographic footprint enable the company to retain leadership positions in the markets it serves. In 2016, Teva Pharmaceutical completed the acquisition of Allergan’s generics business, Actavis Generics.

2. Fresenius Kabi

Annual Revenue – $32.17 billion

Founded in 1912 in Germany, Fresenius Kabi is a global healthcare company that specializes in lifesaving medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion and clinical nutrition. Fresenius specializes in sterile injectable medicines, which places it ideally to enter the growing biosimilars market as they are generally injected. The company is also expanding its generics business inorganically by acquiring US generic drug maker Akorn as well as Merck KGaA’s biosimilars business this year.

1. Sanofi SA (ADR) (NYSE:SNY)

Annual Revenue – $37.4 billion

With revenues of over $37 billion Sanofi SA (ADR) (NYSE:SNY) tops our list of top 10 generic pharmaceutical companies in 2017. It is a French multinational pharmaceutical company formed as a result of the merger of Aventis and Sanofi-Synthelabo. It is the No.4 generics player in emerging markets with five dedicated generics development centres and nine dedicated generics manufacturing sites. The company manufactures drugs for cardiovascular, central nervous system, diabetes, internal medicine, oncology, thrombosis and its vaccine division, Sanofi Pasteur, is the world’s largest producer of vaccines. Sanofi SA (ADR) (NYSE:SNY) has a presence in more than 100 countries and industrial sites in 38 countries around the world.

Thus concludes the list of top 10 generic pharmaceutical companies in 2017.

Disclosure: None