The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7291 p344
20 March 2004

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Lipitor is top seller worldwide

Lipitor (atorvastatin) was the biggest selling medicine worldwide in 2003, with global sales of US$10.3bn (up 14 per cent from 2002). The next was Zocor (simvastatin), with sales down 4 per cent at $6.1bn followed by Zyprexa (olanzapine), up 13 per cent at $4.8bn. Overall, the top 10 sellers generated worldwide sales up 14 per cent, with only Zocor recording any reduction.

Across all medicines, global sales were up 9 per cent in 2003 at $466.3bn. Total sales in Europe were up 8 per cent at $115.4bn In the UK, sales through community pharmacies alone were up 9 per cent at $12.9bn.

The fastest growing product was Nexium (esomeprazole), with global sales up 62 per cent at $3.8bn. The figures come from IMS, which monitors global sales of 1 million prescription brands.