Brand Finance Global 500 (2021)

 

The production of effective vaccines has been integral to getting the global economy back on its feet. This has resulted in not only an increase in revenues, but also improved global awareness and reputation for brands in the pharmaceutical industry, which raises interesting questions about their potential applicability in adjacent sectors.

David Haigh, CEO & Chairman, Brand Finance

 

Pharma brands see healthy growth

Pharma brands have been in the limelight since the start of the pandemic as the world turned to the sector for COVID-19 tests and vaccines. As a result, unsurprisingly, the sector has seen faster growth in the Brand Finance Global 500 over the last two years than any other sector. The number of pharma brands in the ranking has doubled from four to eight, with brand value increasing by 94% to US$54.0 billion.

All eight brands featured are more valuable than they were in 2020, with those that produced COVID-19 vaccinations seeing the biggest increases. Johnson & Johnson remains the most valuable, with a 24% brand value increase to US$13.4 billion. New entrant to the ranking AstraZeneca secured the title of the sector’s fastest-growing, with a remarkable 77% rise in brand value to US$5.6 billion, followed by Pfizer as the second fastest-growing at 58%, pushing its brand value to US$6.3 billion.

Looking to the future, a major brand evolution is expected in the sector due to the trend of separating pharmaceutical and consumer health divisions, as Johnson & Johnson and GlaxoSmithKline are currently doing. Understanding the strengths and value of each part of the brand will be key to ensuring the retention of the considerable brand equity that has been built up in the combined business.

Ver