2024 Top-Selling Pharmaceuticals in Japan

Overview of Japan’s Pharmaceutical Market in 2024

According to the news (【2024年国内医薬品売上高トップ10】キイトルーダ、1851億円で首位…2位にリクシアナ、「共連れ」のオプジーボは3位 | AnswersNews) released by AnswersNews on 01/27/2025, In 2024, MSD’s immune checkpoint inhibitor, Keytruda, led Japan’s pharmaceutical market with sales reaching ¥185.1 billion. Following closely, Daiichi Sankyo’s anticoagulant, Lixiana, secured the second position with ¥147.7 billion in sales, slightly surpassing Ono Pharmaceutical’s Opdivo, which recorded ¥144.6 billion.

Key Factors Influencing Top Performers
Keytruda’s ascent to the top spot, with a 16% increase in sales, was driven by approvals for additional indications, including advanced gastric and biliary tract cancer in May, non-small cell lung cancer, and unresectable urothelial carcinoma later in the year. MSD attributed this growth to robust prescriptions across existing indications and the impact of newly approved uses.

Conversely, Opdivo experienced a 13% decline in sales, influenced by a 15% price reduction in April due to market expansion reassessment triggered by the approval of a similar drug, Bavencio, for renal cell carcinoma. Ono Pharmaceutical criticized this pricing mechanism, arguing it fails to adequately reflect innovation.

Lixiana demonstrated strong performance, becoming Daiichi Sankyo’s flagship product in Japan. The company reported that Lixiana held a 47.2% share among oral anticoagulants as of March 2024. The drug surpassed Opdivo in monthly sales from April onwards, maintaining its lead throughout the year.

Notable Growth in Other Leading Drugs
Sanofi’s Dupixent, used for atopic dermatitis and other indications, saw a significant 51% increase in sales, climbing from 10th to 5th place. The drug received approval for prurigo nodularis in June and maintained monthly sales exceeding ¥10 billion, even after a price reduction in November.

AstraZeneca’s Forxiga also performed well, with a 22% sales increase, reaching ¥100.4 billion. While generic versions are anticipated, their current indications are limited to type 2 diabetes. In contrast, Forxiga is also approved for chronic heart failure and chronic kidney disease, which are not yet covered by generics.

Conclusion
The Japanese pharmaceutical market 2024 was characterized by significant shifts among top-selling drugs, influenced by new indication approvals, pricing adjustments, and strategic market positioning. These dynamics underscore the importance of regulatory developments and market strategies in shaping pharmaceutical sales outcomes.

Tags: AstraZeneca Forxiga Sales, Daiichi Sankyo Lixiana, Drug Approval Impact, Japan Pharmaceutical Market 2024, Keytruda Sales, Lixiana Performance, Market Strategies in Pharma, MSD Keytruda Growth, Ono Pharmaceutical Opdivo, Opdivo Market Trends, Pharmaceutical Sales Analysis, Pricing Adjustments in Pharma, Regulatory Developments, Sanofi Dupixent Growth, Top-Selling Drugs Japan