Xin Jing Bao·2025-08-25 10:11Core Insights - The global top-selling drugs for the first half of 2025 have been released, with Novo Nordisk's semaglutide leading the sales at 166.83 billion USD, followed by Merck's pembrolizumab and Eli Lilly's tirzepatide [1][3][4] Sales Performance - Semaglutide achieved sales of 166.83 billion USD, maintaining its position as the top-selling drug [1][3] - Pembrolizumab (K drug) recorded sales of 151.61 billion USD, while tirzepatide reached 147.34 billion USD [3] - Other notable drugs include apixaban at 111.71 billion USD and dupilumab at 80.15 billion USD [3] Market Dynamics - The competition for the title of "King of Drugs" is intensifying, with new entrants like tirzepatide rapidly gaining market share [1][5] - Semaglutide's sales are bolstered by its three product variants, with the weight loss version, Wegovy, showing a remarkable growth of 78% [5][6] - Tirzepatide has been recognized for its rapid market uptake, with sales skyrocketing from 4.83 billion USD in 2022 to an expected 115.4 billion USD in 2024 [7] Product Innovations - Wegovy has recently gained approval for treating metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, which is expected to further enhance its sales [6] - Tirzepatide is the first and only dual-target GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes, positioning it as a strong competitor to semaglutide [7] Market Challenges - The entry of biosimilars has impacted the sales of established drugs, with Johnson & Johnson's ustekinumab dropping out of the top 10 due to a significant sales decline [8] - Ustekinumab's sales fell by 38.6% in the first half of 2025, reflecting the challenges faced by original drugs as patents expire [8] Future Outlook - Daratumumab from Johnson & Johnson has shown a 21.7% increase in sales, indicating strong market potential in the multiple myeloma segment [9][10] - The overall trend suggests a shift in market leadership as newer drugs gain traction and established drugs face competitive pressures [1][5][8]