2015 Top 10 OTC Pharmaceutical Companies

The consumer healthcare market was a hotbed for mega-deals in 2014, beginning with the creation of a consumer healthcare joint venture between Glaxosmithkline and Novartis. With 2013 pro forma revenues of £6.5 billion, the joint venture established the No. 1 Wellness OTC franchise with £3.4 billion sales from major brands, like Excedrin and Nicorette.

One month later, Bayer initiated another industry shake-up when it agreed to acquire the consumer care business of Merck & Co. Inc., including the global trademark and prescription rights for Claritin and Afrin, for $14.2 billion. Sales of the combined OTC businesses of Merck and Bayer in 2013 amounted to $7.4 billion.

This begs the question: Will J&J’s reign as market leader come to an

end in 2015? Moving up in the ranks with $3,446 million is Pfizer, Inc.’s Consumer Healthcare business, which has been steadily building OTC market presence since re-entering the market with the $68-billion acquisition of Wyeth in 2009. It had previously sold its OTC business to J&J in 2006. In 2012, Pfizer acquired exclusive global rights to market non- prescription Nexium from AstraZeneca and bought the company that makes Emergen-C.

To see the Top 10 OTC Pharmaceutical Companies, click on the attachment below.