What are the top-selling drugs of Novartis?

Overview of Novartis

Company Background
Novartis is one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies, with a longstanding history in developing innovative treatments across multiple therapeutic areas. Over recent years, the company has undertaken a major transformation into a “pure-play” innovative medicines business—a strategy that focuses exclusively on high-margin, prescription medications while divesting from non-core segments such as generics and consumer healthcare. This shift has positioned Novartis to concentrate its significant investment in research and development (R&D) on novel therapies that address high unmet medical needs and transform patient lives. With a diverse workforce of over 100,000 employees spanning more than 140 nationalities and products that reach nearly 800 million people globally, Novartis maintains a robust pipeline fueled by considerable R&D investments and strategic portfolio management. The company’s recent record earnings and steady financial performance underscore its transition and commitment to scientific innovation and value creation for shareholders.

Key Therapeutic Areas
Novartis’ therapeutic focus is grounded in several core areas that reflect both its historical strengths and forward-looking strategic investments. The company’s research and development efforts are primarily concentrated in:
- Cardiovascular and Renal Medicine: Highlighted by its flagship heart failure medication, which has seen high sales and growth, this area remains a cornerstone of its portfolio.
- Immunology: Novartis has successfully positioned itself in immunology with drugs like Cosentyx targeting immune-mediated inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis.
- Oncology: The company is making significant inroads in oncology with agents such as Kisqali and Pluvicto, which target specific cancers including breast and prostate cancer.
- Neuroscience: Although not as prominently featured in the top-selling list, this subject area is part of the company’s broader commitment to addressing neurological disorders.
- Other Innovative Medicines: In addition to these, Novartis is investing in advanced technologies including gene and cell therapies (e.g., Zolgensma) and radioligand therapies, which further diversify its portfolio while addressing rare and complex conditions.

Top-Selling Drugs

List of Top-Selling Drugs
Novartis’ top-selling drugs are an essential component of its sustained revenue growth and reflect its strategic focus on innovation and high-impact therapies. The following drugs are consistently highlighted as the top performers in its portfolio:

- Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan): A breakthrough therapy for heart failure, Entresto has been a flagship product for Novartis, demonstrating robust sales and strong year-over-year growth.
- Cosentyx (secukinumab): A monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases, Cosentyx is a major driver in the immunology segment.
- Kesimpta (ofatumumab): This drug is designed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and has emerged as a rapid growth asset, contributing significantly to the company’s sales in the neurological and immunological areas.
- Kisqali (ribociclib): Indicated for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, Kisqali has experienced remarkable growth and is central to Novartis’ oncology strategy.
- Pluvicto: A targeted radioligand therapy for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer, Pluvicto is becoming increasingly significant as Novartis expands its innovative oncology portfolio.

Other important assets that contribute to Novartis’ revenue include products such as Lutathera (for neuroendocrine tumors) and Zolgensma (a gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy), though these are often less dominant in the overall sales figures compared to the core top-selling medicines listed above.

Sales Performance and Market Share
Detailed sales data from various financial quarters reveal the significant market impact of Novartis’ top-selling drugs. For instance, in the fourth quarter of 2023, Entresto generated approximately USD 1.635 billion in sales, marking a 26% increase year-on-year at constant currencies. Similarly, Cosentyx delivered strong performance with sales of around USD 1.3 billion in the same quarter. Other key assets such as Kesimpta and Kisqali achieved sales figures of approximately USD 641 million and USD 610 million, respectively, thereby reinforcing Novartis’ diversified revenue streams across different therapeutic areas.

Further supporting these figures, alternative quarterly reports indicate that in other periods, Entresto continued to record robust performance—pulling in nearly USD 1.5 billion in sales in one quarter and demonstrating consistent year-over-year growth rates ranging from 26% to 37%. Breakdown by geographic regions further illustrates that these drugs maintain strong positions in key markets including the United States and Europe. The impressive sales figures have also allowed Novartis to upgrade its mid-term sales projections, with projections for Entresto alone now aiming for peak sales of around USD 7 billion, propelled by expansions in China, Japan, and other priority markets.

The market share of these drugs is not only reflected in their sales figures but also in their competitive positioning. For example, Cosentyx remains one of the top-selling immunology drugs globally, and its growth underscores Novartis’ ability to capture significant market share despite intense competition from other biologics. Meanwhile, Kisqali’s substantial year-over-year growth rates and its market penetration in metastatic breast cancer therapy position it as a future blockbuster with potential peak sales approaching USD 4 billion. Such strong performance across multiple product categories allows Novartis to maintain a balanced and resilient portfolio that leverages its strengths across cardiovascular, immunologic, and oncologic segments.

Factors Influencing Sales

Market Trends
Several market trends have contributed to the outstanding performance of Novartis’ top-selling drugs. First and foremost, an increasing prevalence of chronic conditions such as heart failure, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, and certain types of cancers has spurred demand for effective treatments. Entresto’s success, for example, is directly tied to an aging population and the heightened incidence of heart failure, which drives consistent demand in both developed and emerging markets.

Another significant trend is the expansion of regulatory approvals and expanded indications for existing therapies. Novartis has been proactive in pursuing new regulatory submissions for its pipeline products, aiming to broaden the patient base for drugs like iptacopan, atrasentan, and remibrutinib. This regulatory momentum not only supports current sales but also provides prospects for future revenue growth. Furthermore, the ongoing patent battles and generic competition remain key factors; while the company faces challenges such as the looming generic entry for drugs like Entresto in the U.S. after patent expiry (projected around 2025), it is well-prepared with legal strategies and citizen petitions designed to delay such competition.

Digital transformation and leveraging advanced R&D platforms, including radioligand therapy and gene therapy, are additional trends that have allowed Novartis to maintain its competitive edge. For instance, the rapid commercialization and strong launch performance of Pluvicto in the prostate cancer segment is a testament to the company’s successful deployment of next-generation technology platforms. These trends are underpinned by a strong and innovative research pipeline that continues to yield high-value therapeutic assets, further reinforcing the company's top-selling product performance in existing markets.

Competitive Landscape
Novartis operates in highly competitive therapeutic areas, where several other multinational pharmaceutical companies are vying for market share. The competition is particularly fierce in the cardiovascular, immunology, and oncology segments. In the heart failure space, Entresto competes with therapies offered by other leading firms; however, its innovative mechanism of action and robust clinical trial data have enabled it to remain a market leader.

In immunology, Cosentyx faces competition from other biologics and monoclonal antibodies; yet, its strong efficacy, supported by consistent sales figures and positive physician feedback, has carved out a substantial market share. In oncology, drugs like Kisqali and Pluvicto encounter the dual challenge of rapidly evolving clinical standards of care and emerging competitive therapies. Despite this, Novartis’ ability to produce significant year-over-year growth—such as the impressive 76% growth rate reported for Kisqali in the last quarter—demonstrates its competitive advantage in meeting the specific needs of cancer patients.

Moreover, the competitive landscape is influenced by external forces such as government pricing regulations, reimbursement policies, and pricing negotiations driven by large payers and pharmacy benefit managers. Novartis’ proactive measures to engage in legal and regulatory strategies to safeguard its market exclusivity, such as appealing against patent litigations and filing citizen petitions, illustrate how it navigates this complex environment. The ongoing trend of consolidations and strategic portfolio management within the biopharmaceutical sector also places additional emphasis on Novartis’ streamlined focus on innovative medicines as it competes on both product efficacy and market influence.

Future Outlook

Pipeline Products
Looking ahead, Novartis is well-equipped with a rich pipeline that promises to reinforce the performance of its top-selling drugs while also introducing new avenues for growth. The company maintains an industry-leading, catalyst-rich pipeline with approximately 150 projects in clinical development. Many of these assets are poised to address high unmet needs in core therapeutic areas. For instance, upcoming regulatory submissions for drugs such as atyleran endothelin A receptor agonist (atrasentan) for IgA nephropathy, and next-generation compounds like the oral BTK inhibitor remibrutinib in chronic spontaneous urticaria, are expected to bolster the company’s granular growth strategy.

In oncology, pipeline products such as Pluvicto and Kisqali have not only performed strongly in the market, but they are also set to expand into broader indications. Kisqali, for example, has potential future applications as an adjuvant therapy in early breast cancer, which could significantly increase its target patient population and boost peak sales projections. Similarly, successful trials and potential label expansions for Pluvicto could further accentuate its role in the prostate cancer space. Beyond these, Novartis is also investing heavily in innovative therapies including cell and gene therapies, radioligand therapy, and advanced diagnostics, ensuring that its pipeline remains robust even as existing top-selling drugs approach generic competition or patent cliffs.

Strategic Initiatives
Novartis’ strategic initiatives are central to both sustaining and amplifying the performance of its top-selling drugs. With its transformation into a “pure-play” innovative medicines company completed through acquisitions, divestitures, and the spin-off of its Sandoz business, Novartis has streamlined its operations to further concentrate resources on high-value, high-impact areas. This strategic focus is supported by several key measures:

- Investment in R&D and Advanced Technologies: The company continues to invest in novel therapeutic modalities and advanced platforms such as xRNA, cell & gene therapy, and radioligand therapy. These investments are not only fostering the emergence of new pipeline products but also enhancing the competitive edge of existing therapies through improved efficacy and safety profiles.
- Legal and Regulatory Strategies: Facing the potential loss of market exclusivity on drugs like Entresto due to impending patent expiries, Novartis has implemented proactive legal strategies, including appeals and citizen petitions, that are designed to protect its revenue streams and delay generic entry.
- Financial Discipline and Shareholder Returns: The company’s robust financial performance has enabled it to initiate share buyback programs and consistently deliver strong dividends. Such initiatives enhance shareholder value and provide the company with the capital flexibility needed to invest in groundbreaking research while navigating competitive pressures.
- Global Market Expansion: Novartis has prioritized growth in key geographies such as the US, China, Germany, and Japan. By targeting these high-potential markets, the company ensures that its top-selling drugs can access broader patient populations, thereby sustaining long-term revenue growth.
- Efficiency and Operational Excellence: Through the integration of its pharmaceuticals and oncology businesses and continuous restructuring aimed at driving cost efficiencies, Novartis has strengthened its operational margins. The company’s focus on productivity improvements and cost-saving measures directly supports its ability to deliver high sales growth despite market challenges.

Conclusion
In summary, Novartis’ portfolio of top-selling drugs—most notably Entresto, Cosentyx, Kesimpta, Kisqali, and increasingly Pluvicto—exemplifies the company’s transformation into a pure-play innovative medicines enterprise. Each drug has not only achieved impressive sales figures and significant year-over-year growth but also occupies a strategic position within key therapeutic areas such as cardiovascular, immunology, oncology, and neurology. The sales performance of these products, supported by robust R&D efforts and strategic regulatory maneuvers, has enabled the company to sustain strong momentum in the face of competitive pressures and market challenges.

From a market trends perspective, factors such as the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, regulatory expansions, and advanced technology adoption have directly influenced the strong sales performance of these drugs. Meanwhile, the competitive landscape remains dynamic, with Novartis maintaining its market share through investments in innovation, legal safeguards against generic competitors, and global market expansions. Looking forward, the company’s future outlook is promising due to its rich pipeline and strategic initiatives aimed at further bolstering its market leadership and operational excellence.

Overall, Novartis’ success with its top-selling drugs is underscored by a multifaceted strategy: a balanced and diversified product portfolio, continual innovation in R&D, and proactive strategic initiatives to protect and enhance its market position. This comprehensive approach not only secures current revenue streams but also lays a solid foundation for future growth in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving pharmaceutical landscape.