Top 10 best-selling drugs in 2023

Oncology market size

It can be assumed that the oncology market continues to grow due to the increasing number of cancer cases and the development of new technologies in the field of cancer treatment, such as immunotherapy and molecularly targeted therapy. Accurate data on the oncology drugs market can be found in reports and studies conducted by analytical and research companies such as IMS Health, EvaluatePharma and others.

Cancer is a broad term that generally refers to a variety of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. These abnormal cells can invade neighboring tissues and spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymphatic systems. Cancer can occur in almost any part of the body and come in many forms and subtypes. The causes of cancer can be diverse, including genetic factors, environment, lifestyle, and others.

Apoptosis and the connection to cancer

Apoptosis is a programmed cell death that plays an important role in the normal functioning of the body. This process helps to eliminate damaged, diseased, or excess cells, preventing their further reproduction and maintaining the health of tissues and organs. Cancer cells usually have impaired apoptosis mechanisms, which contributes to their unlimited proliferation and tumor growth. This can occur for various reasons, including mutations of genes responsible for regulating apoptosis, changes in signaling pathways that control apoptosis.

World bestselling drugs

1. Keytruda is the brand name for pembrolizumab, which is an immunotherapy drug used to treat various types of cancer. It belongs to a class of medicines called immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) that help activate the body's immune system to fight cancer cells. Keytruda has been approved for the treatment of melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer, classical Hodgkin's lymphoma, bladder, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, cervical cancer, kidney cancer, and other tumors.
2. Humira is the trade name for adalimumab, which is a biologic drug used to treat a number of immune and inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis and others. Humira belongs to a class of medications called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors, which suppress inflammation by reducing the activity of the immune system. It is usually administered subcutaneously and can significantly improve the quality of life of patients with these diseases.
3. Ozempic is the brand name for semaglutide, which is an analog of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). It is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve blood glucose control. Semaglutide helps to lower blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin production and reducing glucagon production after meals. Ozempic is usually administered subcutaneously once a week and can help lower glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes.
4. Eliquis is the brand name for apixaban, which is an anticoagulant or direct inhibitor of factor Xa. This medicine is used to prevent thromboembolism (blood clots) in patients with atrial fibrillation (heart rhythm disorder) and to treat and prevent thrombosis (blood clots) in patients with venous thromboembolism (deep venous thrombosis). Apixaban prevents blood from clotting, reducing the risk of thrombosis. It is usually taken as a tablet and is highly effective and safe compared to some other anticoagulants.
5. üBiktarvy is a combination drug for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. It contains three active ingredients: bictegravir, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide. Bictegravir belongs to the class of HIV integrase inhibitors, and emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide are nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. This medicine is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and patients aged 12 years and older who have not received prior antiretroviral therapy or have a resistant viral strain prior to previous treatment. Bictarvi is a single tablet taken daily that effectively reduces HIV levels in the blood.
6. Dupixent is a biologic drug containing dupilumab, an antibody developed to treat various immune and inflammatory diseases, such as atopic dermatitis and asthma with an eosinophilic phenotypic feature. Dupixent works by blocking the action of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) proteins, which play a key role in the development of inflammation. It is used in the form of subcutaneous injections.
7. Stelara is a biologic drug containing ustekinumab, which is used in the treatment of several immune and inflammatory diseases, such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and Crohn's disease. Ustekinumab works by blocking the action of the cytokines interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-23 (IL-23), which play a role in the development of inflammation and skin cell growth. It may be prescribed for patients who do not get sufficient control of their symptoms with other medications or have limited treatment options.
8. Darzalex is a biologic drug containing daratumumab, which is used in the treatment of multiple myeloma, an aggressive plasma cell cancer. Daratumumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against the CD38 protein, which is present on the surface of myeloma cells. The drug is usually administered intravenously. It can be used as a monotherapy or in combination with other drugs for more effective control of the disease. Darzalex has been approved for use as first-line therapy, as well as in relapsed or resistant multiple myeloma.
9. Gardasil is a vaccine developed to prevent infection caused by certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), which are the main cause of cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anus, throat and head cancers, as well as genital warts. The vaccine is intended to prevent HPV infection and related diseases in girls and young women aged 9 to 26 years, as well as in young men aged 9 to 26 years. Gardasil works by stimulating the immune system to create antibodies against HPV. The vaccine is usually given in a series of injections over time.
10. Opdivo is a biologic drug containing nivolumab, which is used in the treatment of various types of cancer, including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, head and neck cancer, classical non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other tumors. Nivolumab belongs to a class of medicines called immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which help activate the body's immune system to fight cancer cells. Opdivo is one of the key drugs in immunotherapy and has demonstrated significant success in the treatment of various types of cancer.