The 2016 election season has brought the topic of prescription drug pricing and profits into the limelight. Most patients paying for medication are acutely aware of the billions of dollars of global drug sales that the top pharmaceutical companies rake in each year.
With the elections now less than two months away, here’s a look at the five top-selling drugs in the world and which companies are behind them.
Enbrel — $8.7 Billion Annual Sales
Enbrel is owned by Amgen, Inc. AMGN 1.02% and is a treatment for arthritis and psoriasis. Amgen has reportedly raised the price of Enbrel by 80.3 percent since 2013.
Abilify — $9.3 Billion Annual Sales
Abilify is owned by Otsuka Group and is prescribed for serious mental illnesses such as severe depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. The cost of Abilify can run around $900 per month for patients suffering from these conditions.
Sovaldi — $9.4 Billion Annual Sales
Sovaldi is owned by Gilead Sciences, Inc. GILD 0.22% and is used for the treatment of Hepatitis C. After gaining FDA approval for Sovaldi in 2013, Gilead priced a 12-week dose of the drug at $84,000.
Lantus — $10.3 Billion Annual Sales
Lantus is owned by Sanofi SA (ADR) SNY 0.5% and is used for the treatment of diabetes. A 2015 Bloomberg report found…
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