The Architecture Of A Blockbuster

Blockbusters Are A Rare Breed That Dominate The Strategic Outlook Of Many Big Pharmas

Blockbuster status has long been the ultimate goal of drug development, defined as a sales potential of more than $1bn. The economics of drug development, and in fact of the entire biopharma industry, very much rely on these few gems that provide the returns to compensate for the long development pathway and often several billion dollars of investment per new molecular entity.

Gold moth
• Source: Shutterstock

Mega blockbusters (in this study defined as >$10bn) such as Keytruda (pembrolizumab) or Humira (adalimumab) can completely determine the fate of even the largest big pharma. According to analyst consensus Keytruda is roughly responsible for two-thirds of Merck & Co., Inc.’s share price. And even though the key patents on Humira have run out and biosimilars are available, the drug still makes up 28% of AbbVie Inc.’s share price. Also, Celgene as a company was built largely on the back of one mega blockbuster, Revlimid (lenalidomide), and though Celgene is now part of Bristol Myers Squibb Company and generics are expected in 2022, the drug is still responsible for one-fifth of its share price.

As important as blockbusters may be, they are also exceedingly rare. In fact, only 0.5% of drugs that were launched...

More from Business Strategy

Podcast: “They Are Able To Keep Their Body”: Medipost On Its Stem Cell Therapy Vision

 

In Vivo spoke with Edward Ahn, CEO of Medipost, a Korean company that has developed stem cell therapies from cord blood, on how they are working across regulatory markets to provide a novel treatment for degenerative diseases.

Can Italy Shake Off Its Reputation And Become A Premier Hub For Biotech?

 
• By 

Leading industry experts have spoken to In Vivo about how investment, a change in mindset and a fresh approach to policy may allow Italy to kick-start its biotech ecosystem.

Rising Leaders 2025: Abbas Kazimi’s Vision For Nimbus Therapeutics

 
• By 

Rising Leader Abbas Kazimi's leadership at Nimbus Therapeutics combines immigrant resilience, patient-first partnerships, contrarian strategic bets and a deeply personal mission driving breakthrough drug discovery innovation.

AI In Biologics Discovery: The Expensive Bet On Unproven Promise

 
• By 

Despite limited evidence of commercial impact, pharmaceutical companies are making massive strategic investments in AI biologics platforms. The question isn't whether the technology shows promise; it's whether that promise can translate to measurable business results.

More from In Vivo

Deals In Depth: June 2025

 
• By 

Five $1bn+ alliances were penned in June, and four exceeded $2bn.

Global Pharma Interest In Korea Undeterred Despite Political Roller Coaster

 
• By 

Despite recent political turmoil, outside investor and corporate interest in South Korean biopharma innovation appears robust or even increasing.

Podcast: Oxolife’s Agnés Arbat, Winner Of The European Prize For Women Innovators

 
• By 

Agnès Arbat, CEO of Oxolife and winner of the EU Women Innovators Prize, joins In Vivo to discuss OXO-001, a novel non-hormonal treatment aimed at improving embryo implantation in IVF. She shares insights from her biotech journey and the future of fertility innovation.