£24.0bn
£X.Xbn
48,732
459
£X.Xbn
The UK is one of the largest pharmaceutical producers in the world, so the industry commands an important position in both the global pharmaceutical market and the UK economy. A large proportion of revenue is derived from export sales, but the value of exports has declined over the past five years.Industry revenue is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 3.2% over the five years through 2023-24, including revenue growth of 4.3% in the current year, to reach £25.5 billion. Many major large drug makers have rationalised their business strategies to rely less on high-revenue patent drugs. This has supported revenue growth despite the loss of blockbuster patents. Additionally, rising life expectancy and an ageing population have driven growth in domestic demand by boosting the need for medicines, particularly those for degenerative diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the market, as hospital admissions and other medical treatments declined while healthcare services prioritised coronavirus cases. Still, the market benefitted from the vaccine rollout and has since experienced continued high demand as the NHS works through a major backlog.Industry revenue is expected to expand over the next five years, supported by maintained growth in domestic demand and rising demand from emerging markets. Despite a continued close alignment with the EU pharmaceutical industry after the end of the transition period, additional paperwork and expenses for operators are likely to weigh on revenue growth over the next five years. Industry revenue is anticipated to rise at a compound annual rate of 6.5% over the five years through 2027-28 to reach £35 billion.
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £24.0bn in 2024.
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (£m)
2025 |
---|---|---|
AstraZeneca UK Ltd | 2,232.6 | |
Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd | 678.6 | |
Glaxo Operations UK Ltd | 583.9 |
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Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Other, Antibiotic and hormone products and Vaccines and immunological products. Other is the largest segment of the Pharmaceutical Preparations Manufacturing in the UK.
Therapeutic and prophylactic medication makes up the main share of pharma operations
This industry includes companies that manufacture medications, chemical contraceptive products, medical diagnostic preparations, radioactive in-vivo diagnostic substances and biotech pharmaceuticals. It also includes operators that manufacture medical impregnated wadding, gauze, bandages and dressings, as well as firms that prepare botanical products for pharmaceutical use.
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SIC 21.20 - Pharmaceutical Preparations Manufacturing in the UK
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Including values and annual change:
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Key data sources in the UK include:
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
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The market size of the Pharmaceutical Preparations Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £24.0bn in 2024.
There are 459 businesses in the Pharmaceutical Preparations Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
The market size of the Pharmaceutical Preparations Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
Over the next five years, the Pharmaceutical Preparations Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.
The biggest companies operating in the Pharmaceutical Preparations Manufacturing market in United Kingdom are AstraZeneca UK Ltd, Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd and Glaxo Operations UK Ltd
Antibiotic and hormone products and Vaccines and immunological products are part of the Pharmaceutical Preparations Manufacturing in the UK industry.
The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is AstraZeneca UK Ltd.
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Pharmaceutical Preparations Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom.