Immunotherapy is reshaping the landscape of modern cancer care by empowering the body’s own immune defenses to accurately detect and eliminate malignant cells. As demand for personalized, targeted treatments increases, leading pharmaceutical companies have developed ground-breaking immunotherapy drugs, each contributing significantly to the global biopharma market.
In this comprehensive blog post, we’ll cover a curated list of major immunotherapy drugs, their developers, key therapeutic uses, and estimated revenues in 2024. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, investor, or pharma enthusiast, this is your go-to guide for the latest in immunotherapy.
What Are Immunotherapy Drugs?
Immunotherapy drugs stimulate or restore the immune system’s ability to fight diseases, especially cancer. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which targets all fast-dividing cells (including healthy ones), immunotherapies are more targeted and can have fewer side effects.
These drugs generally fall into several categories:
• Checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., Keytruda, Opdivo)
• CAR T-cell therapies (e.g., Yescarta, Kymriah)
• Monoclonal antibodies (e.g., Bavencio, Tecentriq)
Each type plays a distinct role in disrupting the mechanisms that enable cancer cells to evade the immune system.
Complete List of Immunotherapy Drugs, Developers & 2024 Revenue
| Drug (Brand Name) | Developer(s) | Estimated 2024 Revenue (USD Billion) |
| Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) | Merck & Co. | $29.5B |
| Nivolumab (Opdivo) | Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ono Pharmaceutical | $9.5B |
| Atezolizumab (Tecentriq) | Roche | $3.4B |
| Ipilimumab (Yervoy) | Bristol-Myers Squibb | $2.0B |
| Durvalumab (Imfinzi) | AstraZeneca | $3.0B |
| Avelumab (Bavencio) | Merck KGaA (Germany), Pfizer | $0.7B |
| Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta) | Kite Pharma (Gilead Sciences) | $1.4B |
| Tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah) | Novartis | $0.6B |
| Belantamab mafodotin-blmf (Blenrep) | GSK (returned rights from Gilead) | $0.2B |
In-Depth Overview of Top Immunotherapy Drugs
1. Keytruda (Pembrolizumab)
• Developer: Merck & Co.
• Target: PD-1 receptor
• Indications: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), melanoma, bladder cancer, and more
• 2024 Revenue: ~$29.5 billion
• Highlight: It’s currently the highest-grossing immunotherapy drug globally.
Keytruda is an immune checkpoint inhibitor designed to disrupt the PD-1 pathway, reactivating T-cells to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively. It enables the immune system to target and attack cancer cells more effectively. Its wide range of indications and successful clinical trial results have made it the leading drug in this space.
2. Opdivo (Nivolumab)
• Developer: Bristol-Myers Squibb & Ono Pharmaceutical
• Target: PD-1 receptor
• Indications: NSCLC, melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, Hodgkin lymphoma
• 2024 Revenue: ~$9.5 billion
• Highlight: Frequently used in combination with Yervoy (ipilimumab).
Opdivo was one of the earliest checkpoint inhibitors to receive FDA approval. The drug’s versatility across cancer types and synergy with other therapies make it a cornerstone in immunotherapy.
3. Tecentriq (Atezolizumab)
• Developer: Roche
• Target: PD-L1
• Indications: NSCLC, triple-negative breast cancer, bladder cancer
• 2024 Revenue: ~$3.4 billion
• Highlight: One of the first PD-L1 inhibitors approved.
Tecentriq binds to PD-L1 to block its interaction with PD-1 and B7.1 receptors. It offers a new avenue of treatment for patients unresponsive to traditional therapies.
4. Yervoy (Ipilimumab)
• Developer: Bristol-Myers Squibb
• Target: CTLA-4
• Indications: Melanoma, NSCLC, RCC
• 2024 Revenue: ~$2.0 billion
• Highlight: Often paired with Opdivo for synergistic effect.
Ipilimumab was the first checkpoint inhibitor approved for cancer treatment. It functions by inhibiting CTLA-4, a molecule that normally dampens immune activity, thereby enhancing the immune system’s ability to target cancer cells.
5. Imfinzi (Durvalumab)
• Developer: AstraZeneca
• Target: PD-L1
• Indications: NSCLC, biliary tract cancer
• 2024 Revenue: ~$3.0 billion
• Highlight: Significant uptake in NSCLC patients post-chemo.
Imfinzi is used especially in patients who have completed chemotherapy and radiation. It helps sustain remission by keeping residual cancer cells in check and preventing disease progression.
6. Bavencio (Avelumab)
• Developer: Merck KGaA & Pfizer
• Target: PD-L1
• Indications: Merkel cell carcinoma, bladder cancer
• 2024 Revenue: ~$0.7 billion
• Notably used as a first-line maintenance option, it helps prolong survival in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma.
Bavencio is known for its unique approval for Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare but aggressive skin cancer.
7. Yescarta (Axicabtagene Ciloleucel)
• Developer: Kite Pharma (Gilead)
• Type: CAR T-cell therapy
• Indications: Large B-cell lymphoma
• 2024 Revenue: ~$1.4 billion
• Recognized as one of the pioneering CAR-T cell therapies to receive FDA approval.
Yescarta harnesses and engineers a patient’s own immune cells to specifically identify and eliminate cancerous cells.
8. Kymriah (Tisagenlecleucel)
• Developer: Novartis
• Type: CAR T-cell therapy
• Indications: B-cell ALL, DLBCL
• 2024 Revenue: ~$0.6 billion
• Highlight: First CAR-T therapy approved for pediatric leukemia.
This therapy has transformed treatment protocols for relapsed or refractory leukemia.
9. Blenrep (Belantamab mafodotin-blmf)
• Developer: GSK (rights returned from Gilead)
• Type: ADC (Antibody-drug conjugate)
• Indications: Multiple myeloma
• 2024 Revenue: ~$0.2 billion
• Highlight: Under FDA re-review for safety profile improvements.
Though withdrawn from the market in 2022, Blenrep is undergoing modifications for re-approval.
Global Immunotherapy Drug Market Trends
By 2030, the global immunotherapy market is projected to exceed $160 billion, fueled by several key growth factors
• Rising cancer incidence worldwide
• Accelerated FDA approvals
• Increased adoption of precision medicine
• Advancements in biomarker research
Emerging markets like India, Brazil, and Southeast Asia are anticipated to play a key role in market expansion.
Investment and Pipeline Trends
Biotech companies are rapidly expanding their immunotherapy pipelines. Areas of focus include:
• Solid tumors (colorectal, pancreatic)
• Rare cancers
• Autoimmune conditions using modified immunotherapies
• mRNA-based immune therapies
Mergers and acquisitions in the immunotherapy space are also on the rise. Companies like Gilead, Merck, and Bristol-Myers are investing heavily in startup collaborations and licensing deals.
Benefits of Immunotherapy Over Traditional Cancer Treatments
• Lower toxicity
• Long-term remission potential
• Higher specificity to cancer cells
• Can be combined with chemo or radiation for better outcomes
While cost remains a concern, innovations in biosimilars and personalized dosing may help reduce pricing in the future.
FAQs
What is the best-selling immunotherapy drug in 2024?
Merck’s Keytruda leads the immunotherapy market in revenue, generating around $29.5 billion in sales.
What types of cancers are treated with immunotherapy?
Lung cancer, melanoma, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma are among the most common types.
Are CAR-T therapies better than checkpoint inhibitors?
Not necessarily. CAR-T therapies are highly effective in blood cancers, while checkpoint inhibitors are more broadly used in solid tumors.
Is immunotherapy available in developing countries?
Access is growing, especially with support from the WHO and nonprofit programs. However, affordability remains a challenge.
Can immunotherapy cure cancer?
In some cases, yes. Certain patients have experienced complete remission. However, it’s not universally curative and depends on cancer type and individual response.
Conclusion
Immunotherapy is transforming the pharmaceutical industry and patient care. With significant revenues, expanding pipelines, and a growing list of indications, these drugs represent the future of cancer treatment. Pharma leaders like Merck, BMS, and Gilead are at the forefront of innovation, while patients benefit from longer survival and improved quality of life.
Stay updated, stay informed, and keep watching this space—because the next big breakthrough in immunotherapy is just around the corner.
Disclaimer:
This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information provided is based on publicly available data as of 2024 and may change over time. Readers should consult healthcare professionals for diagnosis, treatment, and medical decisions. The author and website are not responsible for any actions taken based on the content of this post.