U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics By Trends, Revenue, Employment, Research and Development

Pramod Pawar
Written by
Pramod Pawar

Updated · Jan 14, 2025

Rohan Jambhale
Edited by
Rohan Jambhale

Editor

U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics By Trends, Revenue, Employment, Research and Development

Introduction

U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics: The U.S. pharmaceutical industry is known for creating innovative drugs that offer important medical benefits and play a vital role in the growth of the healthcare sector. However, the high prices of many new medicines have increased healthcare costs for both private companies and the federal government.

Policymakers are actively looking for ways to lower drug prices and reduce government spending on medications. These costs cover various activities, including finding and testing new drugs, making improvements like product extensions, and conducting clinical tests for safety and marketing. We shall shed more light on U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics through this article.

Editor’s Choice

  • The expected revenue for the United States pharmaceuticals market is projected to reach $630.30 billion in 2024.
  • Oncology drugs are expected to be the largest segment, with a market volume of $103.90 billion in that year.
  • Looking ahead, the market is forecasted to grow at a steady annual rate of 4.65% from 2024 to 2029, reaching a total of $791.30 billion by 2029.
  • Importantly, the U.S. is expected to have the highest revenue in the global pharmaceuticals market, with $630.30 billion in 2024.
  • S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics stated that the U.S. pharmaceutical market also has an increasing demand for personalized medicine and targeted therapies.
  • According to U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics, spending on medicine in the U.S. is expected to reach between $605 billion and $635 billion by 2025.
  • Over 310,574 pharmacists are currently working in the United States. Of these pharmacists, 56.8% are women, and 43.2% are men.
  • The largest group of pharmacists is White (66.2%), followed by Asians (18.9%), Black or African Americans (7.6%), and Hispanic or Latinos (4.7%).
  • In 2021, women in the pharmaceutical field earned 98% of what men earned.
  • Pharmacists are 65% more likely to work at private companies than at public ones.

General US Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics

  • Despite the growth of several emerging countries, the United States remains a leader in the global pharmaceutical market.
  • It is home to some of the largest drug companies in the world, and American consumers have access to the most advanced medicines, although they are often expensive.
  • Recently, U.S. pharmaceutical sales have made up nearly half of the total worldwide.
  • In 2023, five of the top ten pharmaceutical companies were based in the U.S.
  • Pfizer was the top U.S. company in prescription drug sales, thanks mainly to its COVID-19 vaccine, Comirnaty.
  • AbbVie also made a significant impact, reporting $55 billion in drug sales in 2021, largely due to its top-selling product, Humira.

U.S.-Pharmaceutical-Market (Source: grandviewresearch.com)

  • The U.S. pharmaceutical industry has made great progress in recent decades, driven by a strong focus on research and development (R&D).
  • Companies spend over 21% of their revenues on R&D, and if a drug does not get approved, that investment is lost.
  • In 2023, R&D spending in the U.S. pharmaceutical sector totalled about $102 billion, and this number is expected to rise in the future due to the costs of developing safe and effective COVID-19 treatments and vaccines.
  • Prescription drug prices in the U.S. are among the highest globally, and the pharmaceutical industry has enjoyed significant profits in recent years.
  • Humira, produced by AbbVie, generated around $17 billion in sales in the U.S. in 2021.
  • Overall, U.S. spending on medicines has exceeded $500 billion, even after considering discounts and rebates that lower costs.

Non-Discounted-Spend (Source: iqvia.com)

  • Rising prices and higher insurance premiums are constant topics of discussion, with more than two-thirds of Americans believing that drug prices are often much higher than they should be.
  • According to U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics, several important companies in the market are working on expanding to reach more customers and grow in different areas.
  • For example, in February 2024, the Indian pharmaceutical company Alembic Pharmaceuticals announced it would launch five to six new products in the U.S.
  • This launch is expected to boost sales of both existing and new products, helping the market grow.

U.S. Pharmaceutical Investment Trends Statistics

  • The U.S. pharmaceutical industry invests over $100 billion each year in research and development (R&D).
  • On average, it costs about $2.6 billion to develop a new prescription drug in the U.S.
  • This industry spends more on R&D than any other sector in the country, with more than $186 billion spent in 2020.

us-pharmaceutical-market-in-billion-dollars (Reference: insights10.com)

  • Over 4,600 clinical trials for new drugs are conducted in the U.S. each year, and it takes roughly 10 to 15 years to bring a new drug to market.
  • Recently, more than two-thirds of the drugs approved by the FDA have gone through faster approval pathways.
  • S. pharmaceutical companies invest more in R&D compared to those in Europe or Japan, spending about 20% of their revenue on it.
  • According to U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics, the industry also receives over $40 billion in venture capital funding annually and spends around $300 billion on capital expenses annually.
  • Overall, the pharmaceutical sector accounts for 12% of all R&D spending in the U.S.

U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Revenue

  • In 2023, the U.S. pharmaceutical industry made $429.1 billion in revenue.
  • In 2019, it contributed over $1 trillion to the economy.
  • The pharmaceutical market in the U.S. is expected to grow at a rate of 5.3% per year from 2021 to 2027.
  • According to U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics, branded drugs hold the largest share of the market, accounting for more than 70% of total sales.
  • The U.S. also has the biggest market for over-the-counter (OTC) medications, worth over $35 billion.
  • An ageing population is a major factor driving demand, with those over 65 using a significant amount of medications.

revenue-across-all-u-s-pharmaceutical-sectors (Reference: researchgate.com)

  • The increasing use of digital technology and telemedicine is transforming the pharmaceutical industry.
  • In 2023, the industry added over $63 billion to the trade surplus. The U.S. is the largest market for rare disease medications, with over 900 treatments approved by the FDA.
  • Overall, pharmaceutical sales in the U.S. reached $511 billion in 2020, and the market is projected to grow to $685 billion by 2023.

clinical-trials-market-revenue-2023-to-2032 (Reference: medium.com)

  • The pharmaceutical industry contributes more than $1.3 trillion to the country’s GDP, and according to U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics
  • its growth rate is expected to be 3.2% from 2021 to 2026.
  • The market is anticipated to reach $720 billion by 2025, and in 2020, it generated $555 billion in revenue.

U.S. Pharmaceutical Research and Development

  • In 2023, the U.S. pharmaceutical industry spent more than $83 billion on research and development (R&D).
  • In 2022, there were around 58,800 active clinical trials in the U.S., and the country made up over 45% of global spending on pharmaceutical R&D.
  • From 2020 to 2023, the industry invested over $90 billion in capital projects.
  • In 2020, about 72% of new drugs approved by the FDA were first-in-class medicines. The investment in advanced manufacturing technologies exceeded $40 billion.
  • S. pharmaceutical companies conduct more than 45% of the world’s pharmaceutical research. In 2020, the industry spent over $120 billion on R&D and clinical trials, which averages to about 20% of their yearly revenue. The U.S. also attracts over 60% of global venture capital investments in biotechnology.
  • This industry ranks among the top spenders on research in the U.S., contributing to over 23% of all U.S. manufacturing R&D.
  • There are over 1,100 biopharmaceutical companies in the U.S., which invest more than $75 billion each year in R&D.
  • In 2020, there were around 5,000 active clinical trials in the pharmaceutical sector.
  • The industry invests over $6 billion annually in early research. Pfizer, a major pharmaceutical company, spent over $9 billion on R&D in 2020, according to U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics.
  • Between 1988 and 2018, the FDA approved over 1,200 new drugs. From 2001 to 2016, the industry filed over 53,000 patents for new drug compounds.
  • The U.S. pharmaceutical industry invested over $189 billion in cancer research from 2011 to 2020.

research-and-development-expenditure-of-total-u-s-pharmaceutical-industry-from-1995-to-2023 (Reference: statista.com)

  • The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) is a group that represents leading biopharmaceutical research companies in the U.S.
  • In 2023, these companies spent around $96 billion on research and development (R&D worldwide).
  • The pharmaceutical industry invests a large part of its earnings into R&D. Creating a new drug costs about $2.6 billion and can take up to 15 years.
  • In 2023, PhRMA members spent 21% of their total global sales on R&D. This percentage increased to nearly 23% when looking only at sales and R&D spending in the U.S.
  • S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics stated that the PhRMA was founded in 1958 and is based in Washington, D.C., with offices across the country.
  • In 1980, its members invested $2 billion in medical research and development. By the early 2000s, this amount had risen to about $26 billion.
  • Merck & Co. invested over $10 billion in R&D in 2019, while Novartis spent over $9 billion in 2020. In 2021, the industry invested over $100 billion in digital health technologies.

pharmaceutical-manufacturing-market-share-by-region-2023 (Reference: precedenceresearch.com)

  • Another leading company, Amgen, spends over $4 billion each year on R&D, and over 40% of clinical trials in 2022 focused on cancer research.
  • The average cost to bring a new drug to market in the U.S. is over $2.8 billion. Bristol Myers Squibb invested over $10 billion in R&D in 2023.
  • In 2023, more than 50% of the FDA’s new drug approvals were for orphan drugs aimed at rare diseases.
  • S. companies account for over 60% of global spending on pharmaceutical R&D.
  • The industry invests over $20 billion each year in orphan drug research and more than $15 billion in precision medicine research.

Predicted U.S. Drug Approvals And Launches in 2024

  • In 2023, the U.S. FDA approved a record 71 new drugs, with nearly half being biologics.

(Reference: precedenceresearch.com)

  • 50% of all permissions target rare diseases. To improve customers' permission, the FDA also approved over 90 first generics and six biosimilars.
  • The forecast for drug approvals in 2024 looks good. Based on Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) timelines, up to 59 drugs are expected to gain approval.

U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics Comparison By The Total Exports

Sr. No Nation Export value %

10

India $17,526,830,000.00 3.3%
9 United Kingdom $19,225,605,000.00

2.6%

8

Netherlands $19,657,015,000.00 -10.0%
7 Ireland $22,726,587,000.00

-1.7%

6

Italy $26,064,105,000.00 -4.4%
5 France $27,374,139,000.00

3.9%

4

United States $30,455,431,000.00 23.3%
3 Belgium $33,307,921,000.00

70.0%

2

Switzerland $50,296.242,000.00 4.5^%
1 Germany $64,666,587,000.00

60.0%

  • As of 2021, Germany was the leading country in exporting medicines, with total exports of $64,666,587.
  • Switzerland ($50,296,242), Belgium ($33,307,921), the United States ($30,455,431), and France ($27,374,139) were the next top exporters.
  • Germany's medicine exports increased by 60% compared to the previous year, while Switzerland's exports only grew by 4.5%.
  • Belgium saw a 70% rise, and the U.S. had a 23.3% increase. However, France's exports fell by 3.9%, as stated in U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics.
  • Other countries with notable medicine exports in 2021 included Italy ($26,064,195, down 4.4%), Ireland ($22,726,587, down 1.7%), the Netherlands ($19,657,015, down 10%), the United Kingdom ($19,225,605, up 2.6%), and India ($17,526,830, up 3.3%).

U.S. Pharmaceutical Employment and Company Statistics

  • According to U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics, these jobs cover various areas, including research and development, manufacturing, sales, and marketing.
  • With more than 5,000 pharmaceutical companies operating in the U.S., there are many opportunities for professionals in healthcare and life sciences.

united-states-pharmaceutical-and-health-care-value-added-output (Reference: enterpriseappstoday.com)

  • In 2021, the U.S. pharmaceutical industry's value was 3.2%, while the healthcare sector was higher at 5.7%.
  • By 2022, healthcare's value dropped to 5.1%, but it was still above pharmaceuticals, which stayed at 3.2%.
  • For 2023, the expected growth is 2.2% for pharmaceuticals and 1.2% for healthcare, as per U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics.
  • The industry also supports jobs in related fields like distribution, logistics, and healthcare services. This shows how connected the pharmaceutical sector is to the wider economy.
  • To better understand the U.S. pharmaceutical industry, it's helpful to explore other aspects, such as investment in research and development, popular drugs, and the global pharmaceutical market.
  • These areas highlight the industry's commitment to innovation, the products that drive its sales, and its role in global healthcare, according to U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics.

U.S. Pharmaceutical Market By Disease Insights

  • In 2023, the cancer treatment segment was the biggest in the pharmaceutical market, capturing a 16.79% share.
  • This growth is mainly due to several important factors, such as the rising number of cancer cases, which has increased the need for new and effective treatments.
  • According to U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics, this demand has led to significant investments and research in cancer therapies.
  • Advances in personalized medicine and targeted treatments have also transformed cancer care, offering better effectiveness and fewer side effects. For example, in February 2024, the U.S.

u-s-pharmaceutical-market-share-by-age-group-2023 (Reference: novaoneadvisor.com)

  • FDA approved Amtagv, the first cellular therapy for treating metastatic and unresectable melanoma. This drug uses tumor-derived autologous T-cell immunotherapy.
  • Looking forward, the segment for neurological disorders is expected to grow the fastest from 2024 to 2033.
  • This growth is driven by more older adults with neurological issues, rising premature deaths due to these conditions, and an increase in new drugs being launched for treatment, as stated in U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics.
  • For instance, in March 2022, the U.S. FDA approved Donepezil for treating mild, moderate, and severe dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

Conclusion

In summary, the U.S. pharmaceutical industry is important for the country's economy because it creates many jobs and is a leader in medical innovation. The data shows that this industry plays a key role in making, developing, and distributing a wide range of drugs and medical supplies around the world. U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics Considering the current challenges of the pandemic, the U.S. pharmaceutical sector is expected to keep expanding in the coming years.

This article sheds light on the statistics of the U.S. pharmaceutical industry.

FAQ.

How big is the U.S. pharma market in 2024?

The revenue for the U.S. pharmaceutical market is forecasted to reach $630.30 billion in 2024. Oncology drugs are anticipated to be the largest category, with an estimated market value of $103.90 billion in the same year.

What percentage of Pharmaceuticals are developed in the U.S.?

Many global pharmaceutical companies have operations in the U.S. A report by Arthur Daemmrich from Harvard Business School shows that in 2007, 40% of the roughly 6,500 drugs being developed worldwide came from the U.S.

Pramod Pawar
Pramod Pawar

Pramod Pawar brings over a decade of SEO expertise to his role as the co-founder of 11Press and Prudour Market Research firm. A B.E. IT graduate from Shivaji University, Pramod has honed his skills in analyzing and writing about statistics pertinent to technology and science. His deep understanding of digital strategies enhances the impactful insights he provides through his work. Outside of his professional endeavors, Pramod enjoys playing cricket and delving into books across various genres, enriching his knowledge and staying inspired. His diverse experiences and interests fuel his innovative approach to statistical research and content creation.

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