Global Sales Revenue Analysis of Pfizer’s Key Drugs (2001–2025)

Summary Based on annual sales data disclosed by Pfizer’s pharmaceutical division, a total of 103 drug products have reported revenue figures. From 2001 to 2025, during the initial phase, cardiovascular and metabolic drugs, anti-infectives, and neurological agents dominated—driven primarily by the launch and commercial success of Lipitor (atorvastatin), Norvasc (amlodipine), and Lyrica (pregabalin). Lipitor achieved peak annual sales exceeding USD 10 billion. Subsequently, following Pfizer’s acquisition of Wyeth, vaccine revenues grew steadily, while oncology, immunology, and hematology portfolios expanded through continued acquisitions and R&D. Prevnar (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine), acquired from Wyeth, generated over USD 5 billion annually since 2015. Eliquis (apixaban) experienced rapid revenue growth post-launch and became a flagship product in 2025, generating USD 7.961 billion. Ibrance (palbociclib) peaked in 2021 with annual sales exceeding USD 5.4 billion. Antiviral products—including the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty and oral antiviral Paxlovid—delivered near-doubling of overall pharmaceutical revenue. Comirnaty reached a record high of over USD 37.8 billion in annual sales, with revenues exceeding USD 35 billion in both 2021 and 2022. Paxlovid generated over USD 18.9 billion in 2022. Owing to these two breakthroughs, Pfizer’s pharmaceutical division recorded USD 99.826 billion in revenue in 2022—of which over USD 55 billion came from COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics—and the company’s total revenue surpassed USD 100 billion that year. As the pandemic receded, Pfizer’s revenue declined sharply: pharmaceutical division revenue fell to approximately USD 5.72 billion in 2023, and total revenue dropped to USD 5.85 billion. In 2024, a resurgence of COVID-19 led to a significant increase in Paxlovid sales (up ~USD 4.437 billion), but Comirnaty revenue plummeted (down ~USD 5.867 billion); overall, COVID-19-related revenues declined for the year. In 2025, both Comirnaty and Paxlovid revenues declined further—Paxlovid down USD 3.354 billion and Comirnaty down USD 0.986 billion. Although revenues from non-COVID products—including Vyndaqel, Eliquis, and Padcev—rose, they failed to offset the steep decline from COVID-19 products. Beyond the pandemic portfolio, Pfizer has launched several blockbuster drugs, including Eliquis, Ibrance, and Vyndaqel. Eliquis generated approximately USD 7.961 billion in sales and collaboration revenue in 2025—still below its peak. Ibrance peaked in 2021 with sales exceeding USD 5 billion; Vyndaqel reached USD 6.38 billion in 2025.

Beyond the GLP-1 Myth: Multinational Pharma Companies Enter the 'Patent Cliff' Phase

Patent Expirations Weigh on Revenue Core product patent expirations are dampening growth at several multinational pharmaceutical companies. Novartis’ pharmaceutical business net sales declined 2% year-on-year in H1 2026, totaling USD 27.52 billion; net profit fell 16% to USD 6.413 billion—largely attributable to Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan), whose key U.S. patent expired in 2025. Entresto, once Novartis’ flagship product, saw H1 2026 sales plunge ~48% year-on-year to USD 2.486 billion. Novartis noted that although several new products are ramping up rapidly—e.g., CDK4/6 inhibitor ribociclib, which posted H1 2026 sales of USD 3.211 billion, up 51%—these gains contributed +15 percentage points to sales growth, nearly fully offset by a −14 percentage point drag from generic competition against Entresto and other legacy products. Johnson & Johnson’s ustekinumab (Stelara) sales decline also weighed on its innovative medicines business, dragging H1 2026 growth by ~8.4%. Stelara, J&J’s top-selling product—generating USD 10 billion in 2023—has faced mounting generic pressure since 2025; its H1 2026 sales plunged 57.4% year-on-year to just USD 1.396 billion. Between 2028 and 2030, multiple pharmaceutical companies will confront the expiration of core product patents, loss of market exclusivity, and erosion by generics. Merck’s pembrolizumab (‘Keytruda’)—the global best-selling drug before tirzepatide—grew 8.17% year-on-year to USD 16.4 billion in H1 2026, accounting for nearly half of Merck’s total revenue. Bristol Myers Squibb’s nivolumab (‘Opdivo’) posted H1 2026 sales of USD 5.055 billion. Both leading PD-1 inhibitors face U.S. market exclusivity expiry starting in 2028. Apixaban (Eliquis), BMS’s largest cash cow—co-marketed with Pfizer—generated USD 8.617 billion and USD 4.591 billion in H1 2026 for BMS and Pfizer respectively, growing 19% and 17%. Apixaban’s core U.S. compound patent is scheduled to expire in November 2026; BMS and Pfizer previously settled litigation with multiple generic manufacturers, permitting generic entry in the U.S. as early as 2028. However, generics have already launched in China and certain European countries. Cliff or Gentle Slope? “From where we stand today, we feel very good,” said Merck CEO Robert Davis on the earnings call. “We believe the loss of exclusivity for Keytruda will resemble a gentle slope—not a cliff. You’ll see a modest dip in revenue, followed by a relatively swift recovery.” Davis highlighted that Merck has ~20 new products nearing launch, representing over USD 70 billion in commercial opportunity. In recent earnings calls, executives across multiple multinational pharma companies echoed Davis’s optimism. AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot stated that, assuming a ~60% pipeline success rate, AstraZeneca’s current pipeline is sufficient to offset patent expirations and sustain growth for the next decade beyond 2030.

Pfizer raises 2026 forecasts as Eliquis, cancer drugs drive Q3 beat

1 day ago

Pfizer raised its 2026 revenue forecast to $62–$64 billion after Q3 earnings beat expectations driven by Eliquis and oncology products. Strategic acquisitions and cost cuts aim to sustain growth amid upcoming patent expirations.

reuters

2026-11-03

Pfizer raises 2026 forecasts as Eliquis, cancer drugs drive Q3 beat

Pfizer raises 2026 forecasts as Eliquis, cancer drugs drive Q3 beat

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