Top 15 Pharmaceutical Companies by R&D Pipeline Size

Today, shift in the pharmaceutical industry from traditional blockbuster drugs to more specialized niche therapeutics has led to the increase in the R&D pipeline size. As markets for common drugs have become saturated, pushing companies to explore new niche markets. Pharma industry is going through intense competition, with more head-to-head competition between on-market drugs within therapeutic areas, more investment and more R&D spendings.

R&D pipeline refers to the various stages of development that a drug or product goes through before it is approved for commercialization and becomes available to patients. R&D process involves various stages, including initial research, compound testing, pre-clinical and clinical trials, and regulatory approval. It is worth noting that not all products in the pipeline will successfully make it to market, as the development process involves rigorous testing, regulatory approvals and potential setbacks or failures. Data provided here presents a comprehensive overview of the pharmaceutical R&D, including key statistics related to R&D spending and pipeline size.

Roche ranks first among the top pharmaceutical companies worldwide with 218 products in the R&D pipeline, closely followed by Pfizer, indicating their full commitment in drug discovery and development.

Global pharmaceutical revenues are forecast to grow at a compounded annual rate of 5.9% up to 2028, according to the latest World Preview report published by Evaluate. Based on the provided information, the top 15 pharmaceutical companies worldwide by the size of their R&D pipeline as of 2025 are as follows:

Roche

Roche maintains the top position with 263 drugs in the top 15 pharmaceutical companies list by R&D pipeline size. Roche is a multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Company invests highly in research and development, mainly on personalized medicine and genomics. By 2026, Roche will spend 14 billion U.S. dollars on pharmaceutical research and development. Large pipeline is an indicator of discovering more new drugs and expanding their range.

Pfizer

Pfizer follows with 241 drugs closely in the R&D pipeline. Pfizer had an R&D ratio of 18.29%, or $10.7 billion in 2023, demonstrating a substantial investment in research and development.

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is ranked 3rd among the top 15 pharmaceutical companies based on the size of their research and development (R&D) pipeline. The company currently has 224 drug candidates in its R&D pipeline, which is a significant number. Size of AstraZeneca’s pipeline demonstrates its investment in research and development, which indicates it’s long-term growth and success. It is an important metric for investors and stakeholders, as it reflects the company’s potential for future revenue and market share growth.

Novartis

Novartis, a leading pharmaceutical company, currently has 207 products in its research and development (R&D) pipeline. These products are at various stages of development, ranging from early pre-clinical testing to late-stage clinical trials. Novartis invests heavily in R&D to discover and develop innovative treatments for a wide range of diseases and conditions. The products in the pipeline cover a diverse range of therapeutic areas, including oncology, immunology, neuroscience and cardiovascular diseases.

Bristol-Meyer Squibb

Bristol-Meyer Squibb has 193 products in the R&D pipeline. Bristol-Meyer Squibb’s commitment to R&D reflects its long-term strategy of sustaining growth and staying at the forefront of medical innovation.

Merck & Co.

Merck & Co. has an impressive R&D pipeline with a total of 185 products. It shows potential future revenue for the company, as successful products generate significant sales and profits. Overall, Merck’s 185-product R&D pipeline highlights its position as a leading pharmaceutical company advancing healthcare through research and development.

Eli Lilly

Eli Lilly has an impressive R&D pipeline with a total of 179 products. Their R&D pipeline highlight their efforts in bringing new, effective treatments to patients in need.

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson, headquartered in New Jersey, has an impressive pipeline of 172 drug candidates in its research and development pipeline. These products cover wide therapeutic areas and medical specialties. Johnson & Johnson is a major pharmaceutical company, which had a total employee count of about 135 thousand people in 2020. They have also significant medical devices and consumer products divisions.

Takeda

Takeda is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Japan with 166 products in the R&D pipeline. Takeda specializes in research and development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products. The company focuses on therapeutic areas such as oncology, gastroenterology and neuroscience. Example of a prescription medicine developed by Takeda is Entyvio, which is used to treat Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. In addition to pharmaceuticals, Takeda has a presence in the consumer healthcare sector, offering products for self-care and personal health.

Amgen

Amgen, a global biopharmaceutical company, currently has a diverse R&D pipeline consisting of 158 products. For oncology, Amgen is actively developing novel therapies to treat multiple types of cancers, including solid tumors and hematological malignancies.

Sanofi

Sanofi reports 149 products in the R&D pipeline.

GSK

GSK, or GlaxoSmithKline, is a British multinational pharmaceutical company with 144 products in the R&D pipeline. It was formed in 2000 through the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham.

AbbVie

AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company, currently has a diverse R&D pipeline consisting of 138 products. For oncology, AbbVie is actively developing novel therapies to treat multiple types of cancers, including solid tumors and hematological malignancies.

Jiangsu Hengrui Pharma

Jiangsu Hengrui Pharma holds 147 products in the R&D pipeline.

Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Germany. It has 111 drugs in the R&D pipeline. Their pharmaceutical range includes prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vaccines and animal health products. Company has various therapeutic drugs on respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, oncology and central nervous system disorders.

This list provides an insight into the current existing R&D pipelines of these top pharmaceutical companies as of 2025. Location of most pharmaceutical R&D companies showed that 39% of all pharmaceutical R&D companies are headquartered in the United States, indicating the significant role of the U.S. in pharmaceutical R&D globally.

Also check the list of Top 10 Pharmaceutical Companies in India and Top 10 PCD Pharma Companies in India.