This article summarizes and introduces the global top 10 best-selling drugs, to present the readers an impression thereon.

1. Humira
AbbVie’s Humira topped the list upon USD 18.4 billion sales in 2017, which were far higher than Revlimid that ranked the second with USD 8.1 billion sales. Humira is predicted to exceed USD 20 billion sales in 2018, to become the first drug exceeding such amount in pharmaceutical history. See the following table for details of the drug:
|
Trade name |
Humira |
|
Generic name |
Adalimumab |
|
Company |
AbbVie |
|
Structure |
A human monoclonal tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α antibody, a dimer formed by connecting human monoclonal D2E7 heavy chain and light chain via disulfide bond |
|
Mechanism of action |
Adalimumab binds specifically to TNF-α and blocks its interaction with the p55 and p75 cell surface TNF receptors. Adalimumab also lyses surface TNF-expressing cells in vitro in the presence of complement. Adalimumab does not bind or inactivate lymphotoxin (TNF-β). Adalimumab also modulates biological responses that are induced or regulated by TNF, including changes in the levels of adhesion molecules responsible for leukocyte migration |
|
Therapeutic field |
Clinically used for rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis |
2. Revlimid
The drug that ranked the second is Revlimid from Celgene Corporation, with 2017 sales of USD 8.1 billion; this drug is a small molecule chemical drug unlike Humira, with details as shown in the following table:









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