1. In Vivo

Top 10 Best-Selling Drugs Of Q2 2023: COVID-19 Out, HPV In

Merck & Co’s Gardasil Vaccine Debuts On List

 
• By Eleanor Malone

The Merck & Co vaccine for human papillomavirus Gardasil, along with Johnson & Johnson’s Darzalex for multiple myeloma, entered the ranks of the top 10 best-selling drugs globally in the second quarter. There was no product for COVID-19 in the line-up for the first time since 2020.

dollar bill with vaccine
• Source: Shutterstock, Ruslan Lytvyn

Merck & Co., Inc.’s anticancer checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab) has maintained its position at the top of the league table of the world’s best-selling drugs in the second quarter. It attained supremacy for the first time in the first quarter of 2023 as COVID-19 product sales began declining and AbbVie Inc.’s Humira (adalimumab), which for many years had dominated the list, suffered a steep drop after losing US market exclusivity and facing biosimilar competition from late January.

Key Takeaways

  • Gardasil 9 and Darzalex entered the list for the first time in Q2 2023.

  • Keytruda and Ozempic show strong consistent...

Combined sales of the top 10 best-selling drugs globally fell precipitously in the second quarter of 2023, from $46.3bn in the second quarter of 2022 to $32.8bn. The decline on...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on In Vivo for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Market Intelligence

More from In Vivo

The 360 Degrees Of European Biotech Financing In 2025

 
• By Jo Shorthouse

Almost halfway through 2025, and financing for European biotech could be described as challenging. Market volatility, geopolitical instability and trade barriers all loom large in biotech CEO minds when pitching for funding. In Vivo talked to biotechs and investors to gain a realistic view of the current market for company funding so far this year.

Rising Leaders 2025: Pedro Valencia’s ADC Vision At AbbVie

 
• By Jo Shorthouse

From chemical engineering to cancer innovation, AbbVie's rising oncology leader is advancing next-generation ADCs to tackle difficult-to-treat tumors with a patient-centered approach.

Leaders At The Frontier: Conversations From SynBioBeta 2025

 
• By David Wild

Mini-profiles of five synthetic biology companies and their leaders from SynBioBeta 2025 reveal how AI integration, data-driven platforms and interdisciplinary teams are revolutionizing drug discovery and manufacturing.