Top 10 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Companies in Europe (2025)

Europe is home to some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, contributing to nearly 30% of global drug production. 

From cutting-edge oncology treatments to biologics and high-containment drug facilities, these pharma giants drive medical innovation and healthcare advancements. 

Below are the top 10 pharmaceutical manufacturers in Europe, ranked by their 2023 revenue.

Top 10 European Pharma Manufacturers

#1. Roche (Switzerland)

Year Founded/Established: 1896

Revenue: $48.7B (-2% YoY)

Roche dominates the oncology sector with drugs like Phesgo and Vabysmo, leading innovations in diagnostics and cancer treatments. 

The company reinvests over 20% of its revenue in R&D, focusing on high-containment drug production for cytotoxic therapies.

#2. Novartis (Switzerland)

Year Founded/Established: 1996

Revenue: $45.4B (+8% YoY)

Novartis is transitioning into a “pure-play” innovative medicines company following the Sandoz spin-off. 

It specializes in cardiovascular, immunology, and oncology treatments, with blockbuster drugs like Eliquis and Opdivo driving growth.

#3. AstraZeneca (UK/Sweden)

Year Founded/Established: 1913

Revenue: $45.8B (+3% YoY)

AstraZeneca leads in oncology, particularly lung cancer therapies such as Tagrisso. 

The company is expanding its high-containment drug production for highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPI), supporting its growing biologics pipeline.

#4. Sanofi (France)

Year Founded/Established: 1973

Revenue: $46.2B (+2% YoY)

Sanofi’s growth is powered by its blockbuster immunology drug Dupixent and the RSV vaccine Beyfortus. 

The company is also embracing AI-driven drug discovery through its partnership with Aqemia while spinning off its consumer healthcare division.

#5. GSK (UK)

Year Founded/Established: 1715

Revenue: $37.8B (+3.4% YoY)

GSK’s core strength lies in vaccines (Shingrix), respiratory treatments, and HIV therapies. It is investing heavily in oncology, collaborating with Merck KGaA to advance immunotherapy research.

#6. Novo Nordisk (Denmark)

Year Founded/Established: 1923

Revenue: $33.3B (+31.5% YoY)

Novo Nordisk dominates the obesity and diabetes drug market with Ozempic and Wegovy. 

The company is expanding its high-containment capacity to scale up GLP-1 production, ensuring supply meets rising global demand.

#7. Bayer (Germany)

Year Founded/Established: 1863

Reputation: Leading pharma brand in China, US, and UK

Bayer focuses on cardiovascular, oncology, and women’s health while integrating sustainable practices into API manufacturing. 

The company is a pioneer in green chemistry, aligning with global sustainability goals.

#8. Takeda (Japan-Europe Hybrid)

Year Founded/Established: 1781

Revenue: $30.3B (+3.5% YoY)

Takeda operates major European R&D hubs in Cambridge (UK) and Zurich, driving innovation in rare diseases and oncology. 

The company is expanding its biologics pipeline with a focus on high-containment drug manufacturing.

#9. Ipsen (France)

Year Founded/Established: 1929

Specialization: Neurotoxins (Dysport) and oncology (Cabometyx)

Ipsen is at the forefront of AI-driven drug discovery, partnering with Exscientia to accelerate the development of new cancer therapies.

#10. Hikma Pharmaceuticals (UK)

Year Founded/Established: 1978

Niche: Generics and sterile injectables for high-containment markets

Hikma is strengthening its position in the European and MENA oncology sectors, investing in specialized drug production for cytotoxic and highly potent compounds.

Key Trends Shaping Europe’s Pharmaceutical Sector

1. Oncology Dominance – Over 40% of European pharma R&D funding is allocated to cancer research, with Roche leading the charge on new targeted therapies like inavolisib for breast cancer.

2. High-Containment Drug Demand – Rising regulatory requirements for OEB 4/5 drug handling have led to the widespread adoption of isolator technology and closed-system manufacturing to ensure worker and patient safety.

3. Sustainability Initiatives – Leading pharmaceutical companies are integrating eco-friendly practices, such as Novo Nordisk’s “Circular for Zero” initiative, to reduce waste and carbon footprints in drug production.

Challenges in the European Pharma Industry

1. Regulatory Hurdles – The European Medicines Agency (EMA) continues to tighten regulations on high-containment drug manufacturing, making compliance a costly challenge.

2. Supply Chain Disruptions – Post-pandemic raw material shortages have impacted the availability of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), particularly for high-containment drugs.

3. Patent Expiry Risks – Key companies like AstraZeneca and Sanofi face revenue gaps as blockbuster drugs approach patent cliffs, increasing reliance on R&D for new revenue streams.

Conclusion: Europe’s Competitive Edge in Pharma Manufacturing

Switzerland and the UK lead in oncology and high-containment drug innovation, while France and Denmark excel in biologics and AI-driven drug discovery. 

As the demand for precision medicine and mRNA-based treatments grows, European pharma manufacturers remain at the forefront of global healthcare advancements.

For companies seeking high-containment solutions, partnering with innovative manufacturers like Chinacanaan offers access to advanced pharmaceutical production technologies.

Resources:

Pharmaceutical Company Directory

Top 10 Pharmaceutical Companies in Europe in 2022 

Top 10: Biggest Pharma companies in Europe

Top 10 Pharmaceutical Companies Worldwide (2024)