What are the top-selling drugs of Amgen?

Overview of Amgen

Company Background
Amgen is one of the world’s leading independent biotechnology companies with a pioneering legacy dating back over 40 years. The company has established itself as a major innovator in the biopharmaceutical industry, focusing on delivering innovative human therapeutics that address unmet medical needs. Its roots in biotechnology have allowed Amgen to leverage advanced genetic insights to unravel disease mechanisms and develop drugs that dramatically improve patient health outcomes. Over the decades, Amgen has not only built a robust portfolio of drugs but also made strategic acquisitions such as Horizon Therapeutics, which further expanded its presence in specialized therapeutic areas including autoimmune and rare diseases. This long-standing presence in the market and its continued investment in research and development have created a strong foundation from which Amgen pursues disruptive treatments that transform patient care.

Market Position and Strategy
Amgen’s market position is strengthened by its diverse therapeutic portfolio that spans oncology, inflammation, bone health, cardiovascular disease, and rare diseases. The company has demonstrated its ability to sustain growth through both organic development and strategic acquisitions. By focusing on drugs with proven efficacy and safety profiles, Amgen has built trust among healthcare providers and patients alike, which is reflected in its impressive global sales figures. Its strategic approach combines internal R&D breakthroughs with notable licensing collaborations and acquisitions, ensuring that the company remains at the cutting edge of biopharmaceutical innovation. This multi-faceted strategy has allowed Amgen to capture significant market share, drive consistent volume growth, and maintain resilience amid increasing competition from both branded and biosimilar products.

Top-Selling Drugs

List of Top-Selling Drugs
Amgen’s success in the market is driven by several blockbuster drugs that cater to a spectrum of key therapeutic areas. Among its portfolio, the top-selling drugs include:
- Enbrel (etanercept): A longstanding anti-inflammatory agent used primarily in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. It has historically contributed significant revenue to Amgen’s product sales.
- Repatha (evolocumab): A cholesterol-lowering medicine that has seen robust growth, with sales rising significantly due to double-digit volume growth, as well as favorable pricing dynamics.
- Evenity (romosozumab-aqqg): An osteoporosis drug that has achieved record highs in terms of volume growth and sales, especially in regions where demand for bone health therapies is high.
- Prolia (denosumab): Another osteoporosis treatment that has consistently delivered strong sales performance. Even as competitive pressures exist, Prolia has maintained its market position with steady revenue gains.
- Blincyto (blinatumomab): A leukemia therapy that has shown impressive year-over-year growth, reflecting its importance in Amgen’s oncology portfolio.
- AMJEVITA/AMGEVITA (adalimumab-atto/adalimumab): Biosimilars to AbbVie’s Humira, which have commanded significant market attention with volumes growing steadily despite the competitive biosimilar environment.

These drugs represent the cornerstone of Amgen’s commercial success, supporting its status as a leading biotechnology company. Their sales performance spans multiple geographic regions, including strong growth in both the US and ex-US markets, especially in key regions such as Asia-Pacific where product volumes have seen substantial increases.

Sales Figures and Trends
The sales performance of Amgen’s top-selling drugs has evolved over time, reflecting both increased market penetration and strategic responses to competition. For instance:
- Enbrel: In 2020, Enbrel generated sales of approximately $4,855 million in the US alone, one of the top-performing products contributing to total product sales across markets. Its enduring market presence is bolstered by its established reputation and consistent performance despite emerging biosimilar competition, particularly in the European arena.
- Repatha: Recent quarters have seen Repatha’s sales increase impressively. In one quarterly report, Repatha’s US sales jumped by 38%, and its global sales also recorded a commendable percentage increase, reflecting a 31% increase year-over-year. Its robust performance is fueled by growing awareness of cardiovascular risk reduction and improved insurance coverage post price adjustments.
- Evenity: The osteoporosis drug Evenity has recorded record-high sales in the recorded quarters. For example, a quarterly report highlighted that Evenity achieved double-digit volume growth and sales increases of 41% in one quarter, demonstrating strong market acceptance and a growing patient base.
- Prolia: Consistently notable in Amgen’s revenue mix, Prolia was reported to have sales figures in the range of $1,000–$1,165 million in various markets. Its stable performance over multiple quarters underscores its significance as a reliable revenue generator within the bone health segment.
- Blincyto: Blincyto has experienced significant year-over-year growth, with one report noting a 48% increase in sales in a quarterly period, reaching approximately $206 million. This strong performance reflects successful market uptake in the oncology segment, particularly among patients with leukemia.
- AMJEVITA/AMGEVITA: Following its US launch, the biosimilar version of Humira, AMJEVITA, surpassed several milestones. For example, during one quarter, Amjevita sales reached around $150–$164 million, with a double-digit growth percentage, signaling a firm foothold in the competitive biosimilars landscape even as new entrants challenge established players.

Overall, the sales trends indicate that even amid pricing pressures and competitive challenges, Amgen’s top-selling drugs continue to drive substantial revenue growth. The company attributes a large part of this success to robust volume growth in global markets, strategic pricing adjustments, and expanding product indications that help offset declines in legacy portfolio components.

Factors Contributing to Sales Success

Drug Efficacy and Safety
One of the primary drivers behind the success of Amgen’s top-selling drugs is their proven efficacy and favorable safety profiles.
- Clinical Robustness: The long-term clinical data supporting drugs like Enbrel and Repatha have reinforced the confidence of both healthcare providers and patients, ensuring repeat prescriptions and sustained market penetration. For example, the rigorous clinical trials for Repatha demonstrated significant improvements in cholesterol levels compared to standard treatment options, thereby positioning it as a preferred option for cardiovascular risk management.
- Safety and Tolerability: Evenity and Prolia have established themselves as safe and effective treatments for osteoporosis, backed by clinical trial results that illustrate a reduction in fracture risks and improvements in bone mineral density. Similarly, Blincyto’s efficacy in treating leukemia is supported by robust safety data, which is critical given the vulnerable patient populations it serves.
- Biosimilar Development: AMJEVITA/AMGEVITA’s development as a biosimilar to Humira focuses on matching the reference product’s safety and efficacy while offering a lower-cost alternative. Maintaining high standards in biosimilar development has been crucial in ensuring its market acceptance despite the presence of multiple biosimilars in the market.

The emphasis on efficacy and safety not only supports patient outcomes but also contributes to the high levels of physician confidence in prescribing these medications. This, in turn, positively impacts sales performance and market expansion.

Market Demand and Competition
The successful sales achievements of Amgen’s top-selling drugs can be further attributed to several market dynamics:
- High Market Demand: The increasing prevalence of chronic conditions such as autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular issues, osteoporosis, and various forms of cancer has driven a consistent demand for effective therapies. For instance, the widespread need for lipid-lowering agents and bone health medications has fueled the rapid uptake of Repatha, Evenity, and Prolia.
- Global Expansion and Volume Growth: Amgen’s strategic focus on both domestic and international markets has significantly boosted product volumes. Reports indicate that ex-US volume growth, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, has been notable—up to 47% volume growth in some cases—which directly contributes to higher overall sales figures.
- Competitive Differentiation: In a landscape crowded with similar therapeutic options, Amgen has repeatedly differentiated its products through continuous label expansions, innovative delivery mechanisms, and strategic pricing. Even as biosimilars and generic competitors enter the market, Amgen’s commitment to quality and efficacy helps maintain its competitive edge. For example, despite the entry of several Humira biosimilars, Amgen’s early launch, market penetration strategies, and initial head start with AMJEVITA have allowed it to remain competitive.
- Regulatory Approvals and Market Access: Timely regulatory approvals across key geographies have also played a vital role. For instance, the successful FDA and international approvals for drugs like Lumakras, Tezspire, and others underscore the company’s ability to meet regulatory standards, which further solidifies market uptake and sales growth for its core products.

These market dynamics ensure that Amgen’s flagship products not only achieve high initial sales but also continue to perform strongly in competitive markets over successive years.

Future Prospects

Pipeline Drugs
Amgen’s future growth hinges on its dynamic pipeline, which promises to complement and eventually expand its portfolio of top-selling drugs. The robust R&D pipeline includes several promising candidates across multiple therapeutic areas:
- Oncology Candidates: Beyond Blincyto, Amgen is advancing drugs like Lumakras (sotorasib) – targeted to treat non-small cell lung cancer – which, despite being a relatively new entrant, is expected to contribute significantly to future revenue streams once market penetration deepens. The company is also exploring new indications and combination therapies to enhance the efficacy of its oncology portfolio.
- Immunomodulatory Agents: Tezspire (tezepelumab-ekko) represents Amgen’s forward-looking approach in partnering with AstraZeneca for the treatment of severe asthma. With recent approvals and promising early sales data, Tezspire could become a major revenue driver as further label expansions and market access initiatives roll out.
- Biosimilars Expansion: Amgen’s commitment to its biosimilars program is expected to continue driving growth. The company currently has several biosimilar products in development and approved across both the US and EU markets. The continued expansion of the biosimilar portfolio, including additional launches of products under the AMJEVITA/AMGEVITA umbrella, will likely secure long-term revenues in a cost-sensitive market segment.

The ongoing innovation in Amgen’s pipeline demonstrates the company’s commitment to delivering breakthrough therapies and maintaining competitive advantage against global rivals.

Strategic Initiatives for Growth
To support its future prospects, Amgen is undertaking several strategic initiatives that are directly linked to its success with top-selling drugs. Key initiatives include:
- Mergers and Acquisitions: The strategic acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics is a prime example of Amgen broadening its product portfolio to include rare disease and autoimmune treatments. This move is expected to create synergies that will further boost overall sales and diversify revenue streams in the near future.
- Global Market Expansion: Amgen’s continued investments in international markets—particularly in regions with high unmet needs such as Asia Pacific—are designed to capture further volume growth. Expansion strategies also focus on increasing market access through partnerships, local manufacturing investments, and tailored pricing strategies aimed at improving reimbursement environments.
- Innovative Manufacturing and Process Improvements: Enhancements in manufacturing capabilities, including the use of advanced process design and continuous improvement strategies, are intended to reduce costs, ensure high product quality, and support a more agile response to market demand. These process optimizations have a direct impact on the company’s ability to scale production for its top-selling drugs and emerging pipeline products.
- Portfolio Diversification: Recognizing the potential adverse impact of biosimilar competition on legacy products like Enbrel, Amgen is actively investing in diversifying its product portfolio. This includes investing in next-generation therapies in oncology and chronic diseases, which are expected to offset any revenue pressures from established drugs facing increased competition.
- Focus on Patient-Centric Initiatives: Amgen also places significant emphasis on improving patient support services and education, which not only improves adherence to therapies but also bolsters physician-patient confidence in using its products. Enhanced patient support initiatives, such as the AMJEVITA SupportPlus program, serve to reinforce market penetration and ensure sustained revenue growth.

Conclusion

Amgen’s top-selling drugs—Enbrel, Repatha, Evenity, Prolia, Blincyto, and its biosimilars (AMJEVITA/AMGEVITA)—form the backbone of the company’s revenue portfolio and are critical to its market dominance. These drugs have achieved outstanding sales figures due to a combination of proven clinical efficacy, robust safety profiles, and a strong market demand that spans diverse therapeutic areas such as autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular conditions, osteoporosis, and oncology. The impressive sales figures and growth trends observed in recent quarterly reports underscore the effectiveness of Amgen’s dynamic market strategies. Notably, global volume growth—particularly in the Asia-Pacific region—combined with strategic price adjustments and label expansions, has fueled substantial revenue increases.

Multiple factors contribute to the sales success of these drugs:
• Clinical robustness and safety serve as the foundation for sustained physician and patient confidence.
• Market demand, driven both by the prevalence of underlying chronic diseases and the competitive differentiation of Amgen’s products, continually drives volumetric increases and upward pricing flexibility.
• Strategic initiatives such as international expansion, acquisitions, and process improvements further amplify revenue potential and ensure that even as competition intensifies, Amgen remains well-positioned for continued growth.

Looking ahead, Amgen’s promising pipeline of oncology candidates, immunomodulatory agents, and an expanding biosimilars program, coupled with strategic initiatives in market expansion and manufacturing efficiencies, signal a vibrant future. By leveraging both new opportunities and continued enhancements in its existing product portfolio, Amgen is poised to maintain and even strengthen its global market leadership.

In summary, the success of Amgen’s top-selling drugs is a direct reflection of the company’s commitment to scientific excellence, strategic market positioning, and continuous innovation. These factors, combined with robust global sales figures and a focus on patient outcomes, provide a comprehensive explanation of why Amgen’s portfolio is so successful and why it continues to pave the way in the biopharmaceutical industry.