Pharma Manufacturing highlights the top threes of 2023

Nov. 3, 2023
The highlights (and lowlights) of a year in pharma, through the lens of Pharma Manufacturing

As 2023 heads to a close, it is worthwhile to reflect on some of the pharma's highlights — and letdowns. Here is Pharma Manufacturing's list of the industry's top threes in 2023.

Most popular news headlines

1. FDA flags shortage of Eli Lilly diabetes drug (July 2023)

2. Sanofi is ‘all in’ on AI with new app launch (June 2023)

3. Roche wins FDA approval for bispecific lymphoma drug (June 2023)


 Most anticipated drug approvals

1. Leqembi: Eisai/Biogen, Alzheimer’s disease (Jan. 2023)

2. Elevidys: Sarepta Therapeutics/Roche, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (June 2023)

3. Roctavian: BioMarin Pharmaceutical, hemophilia A (June 2023)

Biggest pharma M&A deals

1. Pfizer announces $43 billion acquisition of Seagen (March 2023)

2. Amgen completes $27.8 billion acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics (Oct. 2023)

3. Merck completes $10.8 billion acquisition of Prometheus Biosciences (June 2023)


Best-selling drugs (first half 2023)

1. Merck’s Keytruda: $12.1 billion (Q1, Q2)

2. AbbVie’s Humira: $7.6 billion (Q1Q2)

3. Bristol Myers Squibb’s Eliquis: $6.6 billion (Q1Q2)

Worst regulatory letdowns

1. FDA issues Eli Lilly a CRL for accelerated approval of Alzheimer’s disease drug, donanemab (Jan. 2023)

2. FDA issues Biogen and Sage Therapeutics a CRL for Zurzuvae in major depressive disorder (Aug. 2023)

3. FDA issues Mesoblast a CRL for its resubmission for remestemcel-L for pediatric steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease (Aug. 2023)