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Lilly’s Zepbound: The Biggest-Selling Drug In The World, Ever?

 
• By Elizabeth Cairns and Edwin Elmhirst

Humira currently holds the record as the bestselling drug ever. But Keytruda is coming for its crown – and beyond that, Zepbound.  

Pills and dollars

The biggest selling pharmaceutical product in the history of the world is Humira (adalimumab). AbbVie Inc.’s antirheumatic has racked up nearly $220bn in cumulative revenues since its market debut in 2003, and despite generic competition is forecast to sell another $46bn out to 2028, according to sellside consensus compiled by Evaluate Pharma.

Key Takeaways
  • An analysis of past and forecast future sales shows AbbVie’s Humira in the lead with a total of nearly $220bn
  • Merck & Co’s Keytruda could best this in time
  • And further in the future Lilly’s Zepbound

But another product could, in time, leave Humira in the dust. Some analysts are forecasting peak annual sales for Zepbound (tirzepatide), Eli Lilly and Company’s newly approved obesity product, of around $40bn

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