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2025 IW US 500: Top Pharmaceutical Manufacturers

Aug. 12, 2025

A closer look at the top biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies in the 2025 IndustryWeek 500.

The pharmaceutical industry racked up some of the high-highs and low-lows of the IndustryWeek 500. Some of that drama was just a function of the balance sheet, as companies spun off parts of their businesses or made acquisitions.

Top performer Johnson & Johnson for instance, clocking in at No. 1 in the pharmaceuticals category, saw solid revenue growth of 4.3% but racked up a 60% loss in net income as it spun off its over-the-counter medications and consumer products into a new company, Kenvue. Merck grew exponentially in 2024 after the 2023 purchase of a company that makes a newly FDA-approved type of schizophrenia drug.

Click through the slideshow to read more about the top pharmaceutical companies in this year’s IW 500.

About the Author

Laura Putre | Senior Editor, IndustryWeek

As senior editor, Laura Putre works with IndustryWeek's editorial contributors and reports on leadership and the automotive industry as they relate to manufacturing. She joined IndustryWeek in 2015 as a staff writer covering workforce issues.

Prior to IndustryWeek, Laura reported on the healthcare industry and covered local news. She was the editor of the Chicago Journal and a staff writer for Cleveland Scene. Her national bylines include The Guardian, Slate, Pacific-Standard and The Root.

Laura was a National Press Foundation fellow in 2022.

Got a story idea? Reach out to Laura at [email protected]