Top Vaccine Companies Revenue Rankings Shift Dramatically in 2017
The top vaccine companies revenue rankings saw a significant shakeup in 2017 as GlaxoSmithKline surpassed Merck to lead the global vaccine industry with $7 billion in sales, compared to Merck’s $6.5 billion. Analysts expect the shift to be long term, with GSK projected to reach nearly $11 billion in vaccine sales by 2024. According to the Mayo Clinic, vaccines remain one of the most effective tools in modern medicine for preventing infectious disease, making the commercial landscape of vaccine development directly relevant to public health outcomes.
How GSK Reached the Top of Vaccine Industry Rankings
GSK’s rise in the top vaccine companies revenue rankings traces back to its 2014 asset swap with Novartis, a move that some analysts questioned at the time given the higher margins typically associated with oncology drugs. The deal proved its worth as GSK’s vaccines unit consistently delivered strong percentage growth even as its pharmaceutical segment struggled.
The launch of Shingrix, GSK’s new shingles vaccine, added significant momentum. The product launched in fall 2017 and generated expectations of $600 million in first year sales. Demand was so high that the company had to limit orders and delay television advertising due to a supply shortage. Shingrix’s rapid success came directly at the expense of Merck’s older Zostavax shingles vaccine, which saw its sales decline sharply in recent quarters.
The Top Vaccine Companies Revenue Rankings in 2017
Understanding the competitive landscape among the top vaccine companies revenue leaders requires looking at each player’s position and pipeline.
GlaxoSmithKline
GSK led all vaccine companies with $7 billion in 2017 sales, driven by a broad portfolio and the Shingrix launch. The company’s strategic doubling down on vaccines in 2014 has positioned it as the dominant force in the sector heading into the 2020s.
Merck
Merck held second place with $6.5 billion in vaccine sales. The company is advancing a 15 strain pneumococcal vaccine in a head to head Phase 3 trial against Pfizer’s Prevnar 13, which represents its most significant competitive challenge in the near term among top vaccine companies revenue contenders.
Sanofi
Despite a difficult year that included a Dengvaxia safety scandal in the Philippines and the discontinuation of a C. diff vaccine program, Sanofi grew its vaccine sales 8.3% to $6.12 billion. Growth in flu, polio, pertussis, Hib, and travel vaccines offset the collapse in Dengvaxia sales.
Pfizer
Pfizer’s vaccine business continues to be anchored by Prevnar 13, the pneumococcal vaccine that generated $5.6 billion in 2017 and remains the single bestselling vaccine product in the world. The company is advancing a 20 valent pneumococcal shot in midstage testing along with programs in cancer, C. diff, and S. aureus to diversify its top vaccine companies revenue base.
Seqirus
The newest entrant to the top five is Seqirus, the flu vaccine unit of Australia’s CSL, formed through the 2015 acquisition of Novartis’ flu vaccine business combined with CSL’s bioCSL operations. The company could face competition for its ranking in coming years as Emergent BioSolutions and Novavax are projected to exceed $1 billion in vaccine sales by 2024.
What the Shifting Rankings Mean for Clinical Research
Competition among top vaccine companies drives investment in new vaccine development across a wide range of infectious disease targets. As new vaccines move through Phase I, II, and III clinical trials, clinical research organizations play a central role in generating the efficacy and safety data needed for regulatory approval.
FOMAT conducts Phase I through Phase IV clinical research across a national network of investigator sites throughout the United States. To learn more about active infectious disease and vaccine related studies, visit our patient active studies page.