Top 10: Pharmaceutical Companies in US

The pharmaceutical industry works on discovering, developing, producing and marketing medicines to treat or prevent diseases.

The sector encompasses operations like biotechnology and manufacturing, overseeing the entire research and development process.

The US pharmaceutical market is valued at approximately US$552.7bn in 2026 and is projected to exceed US$900bn by 2034.

Healthcare Digital has created a list of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies in the US, ranked by market capitalisation.

10. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Market cap: US$81.1bn
CEO: Leonard Schleifer
HQ: Tarrytown, New York

Regeneron works on inventing, developing and commercialising medicines to help with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer, neurological conditions and infectious diseases.

Its 35 years of experience has led to 13 medicines being approved in the US and other countries.

In 2023, it invested US$4.4bn into research and development, supporting research in many areas of healthcare to develop medicines.

Its investigational pipeline features more than 30 programmes in clinical development and clinical trials in around 60 countries worldwide.

9. Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Market cap: US$126bn
CEO: Reshma Kewalramani
HQ: Boston, Massachusetts

Across its operations, one of Vertex’s main priorities is promoting corporate responsibility.

It aims to support the patient community through making its medicines available to as many patients as possible around the US and the world.

Vertex focuses on expanding patient access, working with government agencies, policymakers, patient advocacy organisations and health insurers to make a difference.

It has launched the Vertex Foundation which provides opportunities to support its communities through charitable giving, research awards, scholarships and sponsorships.

The Vertex Foundation supports students, educates healthcare professionals and strengthens scientific research.

8. Bristol-Myers Squibb

Market cap: US$127bn
CEO: Chris Boerner
HQ: Princeton, New Jersey

Bristol-Myers Squibb aims to promote health equity and it seeks to promote the health outcomes of populations that are disproportionately affected by serious disease.

In its R&D, the company matches the best kind of medicine to the biological mechanism of a disease and accelerates the development of its medications.

BMS’s CEO Chris Boerner says: “We work every day to make sure we’re delivering medicines for patients.

“With the pace of scientific innovation and the best workforce in the industry, my confidence in our future is stronger than ever.”

7. Pfizer

Market cap: US$157.2bn
CEO: Albert Bourla
HQ: New York

Pfizer’s key goal is to reach eight cancer breakthroughs by 2030, through screenings, research and treatments.

It is perhaps best known for developing one of the main vaccines to protect against COVID-19. 

The company is still working on the vaccine, developing it to target emerging variants of the disease.

Pfizer’s 2027 ambition is to change one billion lives a year.

It is working on creating the world’s best medicinal supply engine and taking on the world’s biggest diseases through its treatments.

6. Gilead Sciences

Market cap: US$184.9bn
CEO: Daniel O’Day
HQ: Foster City, California

Gilead Sciences focuses on producing antiviral drugs, helping to treat HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, influenza and COVID-19.

It is the number one funder of philanthropic HIV programmes in the US.

As well as its work on developing medications, it uses its corporate giving programmes to break down barriers to care in the US in order to build healthier communities.

It works with organisations and advocates to help people overcome economic, social and geographical obstacles that prevent them from accessing healthcare.

5. Amgen

Market cap: US$209.2bn
CEO: Robert A. Bradway
HQ: Thousand Oaks, California

Amgen helped first establish the biotechnology industry more than 40 years ago and continues to use technology and human genetic data to make innovations in the pharmaceutical sector.

In 2025, 18 of the company’s products achieved record sales for the full year and 14 of its products exceeded US$1bn in annual sales.

Robert A. Bradway, CEO of Amgen, says: “Amgen delivered strong performance in 2025, with double-digit growth in revenues and earnings per share.

“We enter 2026 with momentum across a broad portfolio of medicines and a clear path towards advancing innovative therapies to deliver sustained long-term growth.”

4. Merck & Co

Market cap: US$306.1bn
CEO: Robert Davis
HQ: Rahway, New Jersey

Merck & Co specialises in cancer treatments, vaccines and animal health products.

In all countries outside of the US and Canada, the company operates under the name MSD.

Robert Davis, CEO of Merck & Co, says: “Our long-standing commitment and focus on advancing access to health, operating responsibly and implementing strategies that protect the health of people, animals and the planet is unwavering.

“As we continue to navigate the rapid pace of change happening all around us, I am proud of the progress we’ve made thus far and I remain optimistic about our future.”

3. AbbVie

Market cap: US$410.4bn
CEO: Robert Michael
HQ: North Chicago, Illinois

AbbVie’s major products are approved to treat autoimmune diseases including arthritis, psoriasis, crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Around 60 million people are treated by its products every year.

Since the company’s launch in 2013, it has invested more than US$73bn in R&D, enabling it to discover and deliver new medicines to help serious health issues.

When developing medicines, AbbVie focuses on areas where it has the potential to solve unmet needs, such as oncology, immunology, neuroscience, eye care and medical aesthetics.

Its research pipeline includes around 50 programmes in mid- and late-stage development and more than 375 clinical trials in 50 countries.

2. Johnson & Johnson

Market cap: US$598.7bn
CEO: Joaquin Duato
HQ: New Brunswick, New Jersey

Johnson & Johnson’s aim is to create a world where complex diseases are prevented and cured and treatments are smarter and less invasive.

It works on precision medicine, which enables doctors to tailor treatment to a patient based on their genetics, biology, lifestyle and environment.

It was responsible for developing the first commercially available first aid kit, as well as Band-Aids and Tylenol, which established it as a leading provider of medical products and consumer healthcare products.

In 2020, the US government agreed to pay more than US$1bn to J&J to produce 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

As well as its own operations, J&J focuses on sustainability, showing a reduction in water use, waste and energy use as well as a high level of transparency.

Most of the company’s emissions come from its supply chain, with Scope 3 emissions accounting for 72% of its total emissions.

1. Eli Lilly & Company

Market cap: US$939.8bn
CEO: David Ricks
HQ: Indianapolis, Indiana

Eli Lilly & Company, which does business under the name Lilly, has been using science as a key driver of medicine production for its 150-year history.

It is working on creating innovations in disease areas including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity to help people live healthier lives.

In 2024, Lilly helped more than 58 million people find the care, medicine and wellbeing they needed.

The company collaborates with health organisations, providers, regulators and governments to develop solutions and address global medical challenges.

David Ricks, Chair and CEO of Eli Lilly & Company, writes on LinkedIn: “Our home state of Indiana has everything it takes to build a best-in-class system for clinical trial innovation: world-leading science, statewide health networks that reach patients where they are and a community that believes in turning discovery into better care.

“Our growing partnership with Indiana University will help expand access to innovative treatments, enroll patients faster and deliver new medicines sooner.”