Based on the top 500 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, the 2020 global market for prescription drugs is forecast at $987 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% from 2014 to 2020. Sales in 2014 grew to $743 billion, up 2.8%, and total R&D increased 3.1% to $141.6 billion. R&D is forecast to grow to $159.8 billion by 2020, with a 2014–20 CAGR of 2.0%, down from 3.4% in 2006–14. Spending per new molecular entity in 2014 fell to $2.7 billion, down 28.2%, suggesting greater productivity. The top three categories of drugs by therapy area in 2014 were oncology, antirheumatic and antiviral drugs, valued at $79.2 billion, $48.8 billion and $43.1 billion, up 8.0%, 7.8% and 55.0%, respectively. In 2020, their respective sales are expected to reach $153.1 billion, $53.2 billion and $29.6 billion. At $60.5 billion, antidiabetic drug sales are expected to be second only to oncology drugs sales in 2020. The number of mergers and acquisitions increased 4.1% in 2014 to 204, with their value up 87.1% to $116 billion. The number of venture financing deals totaled 514, rising 4.7%, to a value of $8.2 billion, an increase of 35.6%.

Source: EvaluatePharma