With increasing flavour bans in key markets,
vaping brands are facing significant challenges in providing satisfying
alternatives to vapers and smokers looking to transition. Recognising this
need, Alchem NicSelect™ is making a bold move by offering its key customers royalty-free and unrestricted geographical access to its revolutionary T-MAX™ technology.“At Alchem NicSelect™, we understand the urgency for vaping brands to adapt to new regulations without compromising on satisfaction. By offering royalty-free access to T-MAX™ technology, we empower our customers to provide the closest cigarette-like experience possible, even in markets with strict flavour restrictions,” said Riccardo Santambrogio, Europe Sales Manager.HIGHLIGHTS// offering royalty-free access to T-MAX™ technology/ unrestricted geographical access/ closest cigarette-like experience Addressing the biggest barrier: Nicotine satisfactionOne of the primary reasons many vapers are dissatisfied and smokers struggle to switch to vaping is that traditional nicotine solutions fail to replicate the rapid satisfaction provided by cigarettes. Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) and even conventional vaping products often lack the immediate nicotine hit, throat feel, and overall experience that smokers are accustomed to. T-MAX™ solves this problem by engineering a nicotine experience that closely mimics cigarette consumption without relying on flavours.T-MAX™ provides a unique 3-in-1 approach:1.
The Speed of a Cigarette – Rapid nicotine delivery and rush within seconds for immediate satisfaction.2.
The Power of Nicotine Salts – A stronger perceived
nicotine effect without exceeding legal limits (20 mg/ml nicotine limit under
the European Tobacco
Products Directive). With T-MAX™, 8 mg/ml feels like 20 mg/ml, and 14 mg/ml feels like 40 mg/ml.3.
The Throat Hit of Freebase Nicotine – Especially in a flavour-free formulation, the combined ingredients in T-MAX™ deliver an even more satisfying throat feel than expected from nicotine base, much closer to and more familiar with a cigarette throat feel that habitual smokers recognise.HIGHLIGHTS//
unique 3-in-1 approach/ rush within seconds/ stronger perceived nicotine effect
without exceeding legal limits/ more satisfying throat feel that habitual
smokers recogniseNo flavour, but not less satisfyingWhile flavours have traditionally played a role in
vaping adoption, market realities are shifting. With flavour bans spreading
across regions, brands need solutions that deliver satisfaction without relying
on taste. Consumer research has shown that T-MAX™ performs exceptionally well even without added flavours. Since most cigarette smokers do not smoke for the tobacco flavour but rather for the nicotine hit and habitual experience, T-MAX™ provides a viable alternative that aligns with new regulatory landscapes.HIGHLIGHTS// flavour bans spreading across regions/ T-MAX™ performs exceptionally well even without added flavoursEmpowering vape brands with free access to T-MAX™By granting customers royalty-free access to the T-MAX™ technology, Alchem NicSelect™ is removing barriers for vaping brands and original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) looking to adapt to regulatory changes. This open-access approach ensures that manufacturers can integrate T-MAX™ into their product lines without additional costs, allowing them to offer superior nicotine satisfaction in markets where flavours are no longer an option.HIGHLIGHTS// removing barriers for vaping brands and OEMs looking to adapt/ manufacturers can integrate T-MAX™ into product lines without additional costsThe future of vaping in restricted marketsWith T-MAX™, the vaping industry has a powerful tool to retain customers and convert smokers who have struggled with traditional vaping products. By delivering the key elements of cigarette satisfaction — without combustion or flavours — T-MAX™ is set to redefine what a satisfying vape experience means in a post-flavour-ban world.“Our commitment to innovation and accessibility means we are providing our customers with the solutions they need to navigate an evolving regulatory landscape. T-MAX™ allows brands to offer a highly satisfying experience that mimics smoking without relying on flavours. The message is clear: no flavour, but not less satisfying”, added Santambrogio.HIGHLIGHTS// powerful tool to retain customers and convert smokers/ delivering the key elements of cigarette satisfaction without combustion or flavours/ no flavour, but not less satisfying
In 2024, Big Pharma players consolidated
and maintained their dominance, even as innovation continued to reshape the
pharmaceutical landscape. The primary change last year was the meteoric rise of
glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists that treat diabetes and help
in weight loss.Amongst drugmakers, Pfizer retained its numero uno spot
with an impressive US$ 63.6 billion in prescription drug sales
(up 7 percent from US$ 59.56
billion reported in 2023), despite ever-shrinking Comirnaty sales, which
settled at US$ 5.35 billion in 2024 (from US$ 11.22 billion in 2023).Merck secured the second position
with revenues of US$ 57.4 billion, a growth of 7 percent over 2023. This performance was predominantly fueled by Keytruda, which now accounts for more than half of Merck’s total pharmaceutical revenue. Johnson & Johnson came a close third with US$ 57 billion in prescription drug sales
(up from US$ 54.76 billion in 2023).AbbVie held the fourth position with US$ 56.33 billion in sales, achieving 3.7 percent growth despite the ongoing erosion of Humira revenue. This flagship immunology drug saw sales plummet 37.6 percent to approximately US$ 9 billion, a US$ 5.4 billion reduction compared to 2023. Humira’s loss was offset by AbbVie’s newer immunology assets, particularly Skyrizi and Rinvoq, both of which demonstrated exceptional growth trajectories. View Our Interactive Dashboard on Top Drugs in 2024 by Sales (Free Excel Available)European giants Astra, Roche,
Novartis, Sanofi round out top 10 list; Novo, Lilly see astounding growthWhile the top four positions were dominated by American drugmakers, European giants dominated the lower half of the top 10 list.AstraZeneca secured the fifth spot with US$ 54.1 billion in sales, thereby posting impressive growth of 18.1 percent over 2023. Roche claimed the sixth position
with US$ 50.9 billion in sales while Novartis ranked seventh — with sales of US$ 50.3 billion. Novartis' impressive 10.8 percent sales growth is attributed to its
innovative medicines portfolio. Oncology therapies remained a cornerstone for
both these Swiss drugmakers.Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) secured eighth
position with revenues of US$ 48.3 billion, representing 7.3 percent
growth over the previous year. At US$ 45 billion, Eli Lilly posted 32 percent revenue growth last year. Its GLP-1 drug Mounjaro helped Lilly move up from the tenth in 2023 to the ninth spot last year.Sanofi landed the tenth position
with US$ 42.6 billion in sales, propelled largely
by the expanding indications of Dupixent. The French multinational has
increasingly focused on this immunology blockbuster, while also garnering more
sales from its vaccine and rare disease portfolios.Novo Nordisk merits a mention as it
posted an incredible 26 percent year-on-year growth. It retained its eleventh
spot with US$ 40.25 billion in sales. Novo’s growth was driven almost exclusively by the extraordinary success of its GLP-1 receptor agonist portfolio. View Our Interactive Dashboard on Top Drugs in 2024 by Sales (Free Excel Available) Merck’s Keytruda retains throne with US$ 29.5 bn in sales, as Novo’s semaglutide nips at its heelsMoving on to drugs, Merck’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) solidified its position as the world’s top-selling pharmaceutical product with sales exceeding US$ 29.5 billion and year-on-year growth of
17.88 percent (US$ 4.5 billion). This remarkable performance was driven by
steady sales growth across more than 40 indications in the US. In 2024 alone,
Keytruda secured four new approvals from the US Food and Drug Administration
(FDA).However, Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide sales (Ozempic, Wegovy and
Rybelsus) gave Keytruda a run for its money. Across the three blockbuster
drugs, semaglutide earned the Danish drugmaker around US$ 28 billion — i.e. a year-on-year increase of 38 percent.Novo’s Ozempic (semaglutide) reached over US$ 16.7 billion in sales — a 20 percent increase from 2023. Originally approved in 2017 to improve glycemic control, Ozempic bagged additional approvals in 2020, and in January 2025. It is now approved to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, as well as to reduce cardiovascular risk and to lower the likelihood of chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes patients.Sales of Wegovy (semaglutide), the other blockbuster GLP-1 drug
from Novo, grew by a whopping 85.7 percent to over US$ 8 billion.Sanofi and Regeneron’s Dupixent (dupilumab) secured the number three spot with sales of US$ 13.6 billion, representing an impressive 17.2 percent year-on-year growth. In 2024, Dupixent received three new approvals and one label update. Notably, it became the first-ever biologic medicine approved for
patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). View Our Interactive Dashboard on Top Drugs in 2024 by Sales (Free Excel Available) AbbVie’s post-Humira strategy pays off as Skyrizi surges 51%; Lilly’s Mounjaro posts 124% growthGilead Sciences’ HIV treatment Biktarvy (bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide) showed robust growth of
13.27 percent, touching sales of US$ 13.42 billion in 2024 and emerging as the
fourth largest selling drug. Biktarvy now commands over 50 percent of the US HIV treatment
market. Unlike many other drugs on this list, Biktarvy faces no immediate
patent challenges, with key protections expected to remain intact until 2033.BMS and Pfizer’s anticoagulant Eliquis (apixaban) claimed the fifth position
with US$ 13.33 billion in sales, representing a 9.21 percent year-on-year increase. AbbVie’s Skyrizi (risankizumab)
emerged as one of the fastest-growing assets with a 50.95 percent year-on-year
increase, generating US$ 11.71 billion in 2024 sales, thereby surpassing Humira’s (adalimumab) diminished sales.This impressive performance, combined with Rinvoq’s (upadacitinib) growth, has prompted AbbVie to raise its long-term outlook for these products. The
company now expects combined Skyrizi and Rinvoq revenues to exceed US$ 31
billion by 2027, with Skyrizi alone projected to generate over US$ 20 billion.Johnson & Johnson’s Darzalex (daratumumab) claimed the seventh position with US$ 11.67 billion in sales, representing 19.77 percent growth over 2023.Lilly’s Mounjaro (tirzepatide) demonstrated dramatic
growth with sales increasing 123.51 percent to US$ 11.54 billion. This performance was complemented by Zepbound (tirzepatide, for weight loss), which contributed US$ 4.9 billion to Lilly’s revenue. By the end of 2024, Mounjaro received FDA approval for a new indication in
obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), becoming the first and only prescription
medicine for moderate-to-severe OSA in adults with obesity.Stelara (ustekinumab) ranked ninth, bringing J&J sales of US$ 10.36 billion, showing a modest decline of 4.91 percent from its 2023 sales.Vertex’s triple-combination therapy Trikafta (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor) for
treating cystic fibrosis rounded out the top ten list with sales of US$ 10.2 billion, up 14 percent from the previous
year. View Our Interactive Dashboard on Top Drugs in 2024 by Sales (Free Excel Available) Our viewIn 2024, transformative therapies like GLP-1 receptor agonists drove growth in the pharmaceutical industry. This year, we expect GLP-1 drugs to dethrone Keytruda from the number one spot. Along with novel immunology agents, we expect GLP-1 drugs to realign the pharmaceutical market.
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