World’s Top Ten Cancer Drugs by 2020

LUCA DEZZANI

According to the World Health Organization, around 8.2 million people die from cancer every year and it comprises an estimated 13% of all deaths worldwide. It is also predicted by the WHO that there will be a 70% increase in new cases of cancer in the next two decades. Fortunately, many pharma and biotech companies are now focusing on this need.

A 2016 statistical report from Statista (www.statista.com) has displayed the projected top 10 oncology drugs worldwide by 2020. The drugs are ranked by revenue. The list is expected to be headed by Revlimid, a cancer drug manufactured by U.S.-based company Celgene, forecasted to manufacture five of the leading six cancer drugs by 2020. Here are the top oncology medicines in detail:

1. Revlimid (Celgene)

Generic Name: Lenalidomide

 Projected Sales in 2020: $10,110 Million

Revlimid is used to treat multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. It is used also in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome associated with a deletion 5q cytogenetic abnormality

2. Imbruvica (AbbVie/J&J)

Generic Name: Ibrutinib

Projected Sales in 2020: $8,213 Million

Imbruvica is indicated for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with 17p deletion, Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have received at least one prior treatment.

3. Avastin (Roche)

Generic Name: Bevacizumab

Projected Sales in 2020: $ 6,733 Million

Avastin is a vascular endothelial growth factor-specific angiogenesis inhibitor indicated for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer, glioblastoma, metastatic renal cell carcinoma, cervical cancer, platinum-resistant recurrent epithelial ovarian and fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer.

4. Opdivo (BMS)

Generic Name: Nivolumab

Projected Sales in 2020: $ 6,201 Million

Opdivo is a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) blocking antibody indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and advanced renal cell carcinoma.

5. Xtandi (Medivation & Astellas)

Generic Name: Enzalutamide

Projected Sales in 2020: $5,700 Million

Xtandi is an androgen receptor inhibitor indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

6. Rituxan (Roche)

Generic Name: Rituximab

Projected Sales in 2020: $5,407 Million

Rituxan is indicated for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), (Wegener’s Granulomatosis) and Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA). It was one of the world’s 10 best selling drugs last year, hauling in $7.5 billion worldwide but the patent on the drug expires in 2018.

7. Ibrance (Pfizer)

Generic Name: Palbociclib

Projected Sales in 2020: $4,722 Million

Ibrance is used to treat hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic)

8. Perjeta (Roche)

Generic Name: Pertuzumab

Projected Sales in 2020: $4,669 Million

Perjeta is indicated for metastatic breast cancer. It may also be used for HER2-positive, locally advanced, inflammatory, or early stage breast cancer.

9. Herceptin (Roche)

Generic Name: Trastuzumab

Projected Sales in 2020: $4,573 Million

Herceptin is used in the treatment of early-stage breast cancer that is Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2-positive (HER2+) and has spread into the lymph nodes, or is HER2-positive and has not spread into the lymph nodes. It is also used in metastatic breast cancer and in gastric cancer. The patent  in  2019 in the United States.

10. Keytruda (Merck)

Generic Name: Pembrolizumab

Projected Sales in 2020: $3,560 Million

Merck’s immunotherapy Keytruda is indicated in patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.