AstraZeneca - Competitors

AstraZeneca Competition

Now Viewing AstraZeneca's competition in: Pharmaceutical Manufacture and Sale (primary)

Recent Developments

Pharmaceutical Companies Cutting Back - Due to a complex range of factors, pharmaceutical companies will be researching fewer areas in the near future. Companies such as Wyeth, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Pfizer are narrowing the focus of their research to be more adaptive in the marketplace and adhere to increasingly tough regulatory standards. As the companies overhaul their research, some layoffs are anticipated.

Possible Acquisitions Ahead for Pharmaceuticals - The pharmaceutical industry could soon be very active acquiring small biotech firms and drug companies. Low stock prices for small companies due to the recent US and global market turmoil is one reason that larger companies may be interested in new purchases. And experts contend that many major pharmaceutical companies will need new drugs to help them profit amid the expiration of multiple patents in coming years.

Drug Maker Settles Lawsuits - Pfizer has announced the settlement of over 90 percent of personal injury lawsuits over its popular Celebrex and Bextra drugs, which caused harmful side effects or deaths in several thousand people. Pfizer will spend nearly $900 million to settle. The settlement comes on the heels of a multi-billion dollar settlement by Merck over its Vioxx medication.

Competitive Landscape

The industry is marked by rapid advances in scientific knowledge that produce ever-more effective medicines. Profitability is determined mainly by the ability to discover new drugs. The industry is dominated by the large manufacturers/marketers that manufacture drugs, have large research operations, and also have large clinical testing, marketing, and distribution capabilities. Small companies are mainly research operations or manufacturers of non-prescription products. Because of the high value of the product, average revenue per employee is a very high $600,000.

Full Industry Overview For Pharmaceutical Manufacture and Sale

Pharmaceutical Manufacture and Sale Industry Forecast

from Hoover's/D&B subsidiary First Research

The output of US drug manufacturing is forecast to grow at an annual compounded rate of 10.7 percent between 2008 and 2013.

Drug Production Growth Strong

First Research forecasts are based on INFORUM forecasts that are licensed from the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. (IERF) in College Park, MD. INFORUM's "interindustry-macro" approach to modeling the economy captures the links between industries and the aggregate economy.