2 1 Shi Ji Jing Ji Bao Dao·2025-12-29 08:06Core Insights - The pharmaceutical industry is experiencing significant performance divergence among major multinational companies in 2025, with some achieving remarkable growth while others face substantial declines [1][4][6]. Financial Performance - Novo Nordisk reported Q3 2025 revenues of 74.976 billion Danish Krone (approximately $11.276 billion), a year-on-year increase of 11%, with total revenues for the first three quarters reaching 229.92 billion Danish Krone (approximately $34.58 billion), up 15% [1]. - Merck's pharmaceutical business revenue for the first three quarters of 2025 was $43.299 billion, with a 68% year-on-year decline in revenue from China, dropping to $1.452 billion [2]. - Eli Lilly achieved a Q3 2025 revenue of $17.6 billion, a 54% increase from $11.439 billion in the same period last year, with total revenues for the first three quarters reaching $45.887 billion, up 46% [3]. - Pfizer's Q3 2025 total revenue was $16.654 billion, a 6% decrease from $17.702 billion year-on-year, with a 55% drop in revenue from its COVID-19 oral drug Paxlovid [4]. Strategic Adjustments - Major pharmaceutical companies are actively seeking solutions to address strategic challenges, including layoffs and business divestitures, with 190 layoffs reported in the biopharmaceutical sector in the first three quarters of 2025 [2][9]. - Companies like Merck and Novo Nordisk are implementing significant cost-cutting measures, with Merck aiming to save $3 billion by 2027 and Novo Nordisk targeting an annual cost saving of 8 billion Danish Krone [9]. - The trend of divesting mature assets is becoming common, with investment firms stepping in as buyers, indicating a shift in the operational landscape of the pharmaceutical industry in China [7][8]. Market Dynamics - The Chinese market is no longer a guaranteed profit zone for multinational pharmaceutical companies, with significant performance disparities emerging among leading firms [5][12]. - The ongoing "patent cliff" is a critical concern, with many companies facing over 20% revenue exposure to patent expirations in the next three years, impacting their financial stability [4][5]. - The competition in the pharmaceutical sector is intensifying, necessitating companies to adapt quickly to local market policies and innovate their product pipelines to maintain growth [6][12]. Future Outlook - The future of multinational pharmaceutical companies will heavily rely on their innovation capabilities, local market strategies, and management of patent expirations [12][15]. - Companies that successfully transition to innovation-driven models and establish strong positions in emerging therapeutic areas are likely to thrive, while those unable to adapt may face ongoing growth pressures [12][15]. - The restructuring of global pharmaceutical strategies is expected to accelerate, focusing on both downsizing and investing in innovative fields, such as gene and cell therapies [9][10].