The global pharmaceuticals market is worth US$300 billion a year, a figure expected to rise to US$400 billion within three years. The 10 largest drugs companies control over one-third of this market, several with sales of more than US$10 billion a year and profit margins of about 30%. Six are based in the United States and four in Europe.It is predicted that North and South America, Europe and Japan will continue to account for a full 85% of the global pharmaceuticals market well into the 21st century. Companies currently spend one-third of all sales revenue on marketing their products - roughly twice what they spend on research and development.
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The pressure on drug companies to maintain high sales creates a conflict of interest, where the companies' business goals don't always align with the public's need for safe and effective medication.
When pharmaceutical companies are the main source of information about which drugs work best, it can make it harder for doctors and patients to make unbiased, well-informed choices about treatment.
In countries like the UK, drug companies spend 50 times more on promoting their products than what is spent on public health information, making it challenging for people to access unbiased.