GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY
The global pharmaceutical industry is worth US$ 300 billion a year, a figure projected to grow within three years to US$ 400 billion. The 10 biggest drug


firms control more than one-third of this market, many with annual revenue of \ more than US$ 10 billion and profit margins of about 30%. Six are based in the \sUSA and four are based in Europe. North and South America, Europe, and Japan are expected to continue to account for a complete 85% of the global pharmaceutical market well into the 21st century. At present, businesses spend one-third of their sales income on selling their goods - nearly double what they spend on research and growth.