Large pharmaceutical companies offset losses from numerous patented drugs coming off patent during 2009-2010 with a flurry of mergers, acquisitions and lay-offs, and investments in R&D and in developing markets.
Statistics are for 2009 and are derived from corporate annual reports, quarterly reports, and Fortune's 2010 rankings.
1. Johnson & Johnson
NYSE: JNJ
Revenues: $61.9 billion
Profits: $12.2
Return to Investors: 11.4%
Employees: 115,500
2. Pfizer
NYSE: PFE
Revenues: $50 billion
Profits: $8.6 billion
Return to Investors: 8.6%
Employees:116,500
3. Abbott Laboratories
NYSE: ABT
Revenues: $30.7 billion
Profits: $5.7 billion
Return to Investors: 4.5%
Employees:72,868
4. Merck
NYSE: MRK
Revenues: $27.4 billion
Profits: $12.9 billion
Return to Investors: 26.6%%
Employees:100,000
5. Eli Lilly
NYSE: LLY
Revenues: $21.8 billion
Profits: $4.3 billion
Return to Investors: -5.9%
Employees: 40,360
6. Bristol-Myers Squibb
NYSE: BMS
Revenues: $21.6 billion
Profits: $10.6 billion
Return to Investors: 15.1%
Employees: 28,000
7. Amgen
NASDAQ: AMGN
Revenues: $14.6 billion
Profits: $4.6 billion
Return to Investors: -2.0%
Employees:17,100
8. Gilead Sciences
NASDAQ: GILD
Revenues:$7 billion<
Profits: $2.6 billion
Return to Investors: -15.4%
Employees: 3,874
