It’s as you were at the top of the TV drug ad spending table as AbbVie continues its 2024 domination as total spending across the top 10 pharma companies rebounds from its summer lull.
AbbVie’s immunology duo Skyrizi and Rinvoq took first and second place, respectively, in the August listing as the Big Pharma upped spend on both, according to figures from real-time ad trackers iSpot.TV.
AbbVie funneled $32.4 million into all ads for Skyrizi in August, up from $28.3 million in July, while spending $29.8 million on Rinvoq, up $7.3 million month-over-month, mirroring the top two from July.
In the third position is longtime rival Dupixent, the megablockbuster immunology med from Sanofi and Regeneron. Otsuka and Lundbeck’s mental health drug Rexulti continued its recent strong run of form in fourth place.
Coming midtable is Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 diabetes drug Ozempic, up one place from July. GSK’s RSV vaccine Arexvy came in sixth as the British Big Pharma gears up for respiratory virus season this fall.
In the seventh position is Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim’s diabetes treatment Jardiance, down two spots. Merck’s blockbuster cancer therapy Keytruda continues its mini-run in the eighth spot, up from 10th in July.
In ninth is an unusual entrant, not seen in these top 10 lists this year, in the form of Teva’s Austedo. The drug is FDA-approved to help reduce chorea or involuntary movements in adults with Huntington's disease or tardive dyskinesia. The Israeli-based generic giant spent $8.7 million on all ads for the med in August, up from $5.8 million in July.
And in the final position, we see Amgen’s plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis drug Otezla, falling two places, even though spending edged up by $400,000.
Back in July, we saw the top 10 pharma drug spenders funnel just over $140 million into TV drug ads, down from the already low $151.7 million in June. This was a major drop from the around $190 million in spending we saw in April and May, indicating a significant slowdown.
In August, however, there was a small turnaround as the top 10 spent $167.7 million as we head into the second half of the year where, traditionally, ad spending speeds up.
Check out the top 10 below from iSpot.TV below.
1. Skyrizi
Movement: No change
What is it? AbbVie’s immunology drug
Est. national TV ad spend: $32.4 million (up from $28.3 million in July)
Number of spots: 14 (two psoriatic arthritis, eight psoriasis, four Crohn’s disease)
Biggest-ticket ad: “In the Picture” (est. $7.3 million)
2. Rinvoq
Movement: No change
What is it? AbbVie’s JAKi immunology drug
Est. national TV ad spend: $29.8 million (up from $22.5 million in July)
Number of spots: Nine (two UC/Crohn’s, five arthritis, two eczema)
Biggest-ticket ad: “Volleyball and Skiing: $0 per Month” (est. $9.2 million)
3. Dupixent
Movement: Up one spot
What is it? Sanofi and Regeneron’s immunology drug
Est. national TV ad spend: $23.2 million (up from $17.9 million in July)
Number of spots: Eight (one gastrointestinal, two asthma, five eczema)
Biggest-ticket ad: “This Is Better” (est. $8.2 million)
4. Rexulti
Movement: Down one spot
What is it? Otsuka and Lundbeck’s CNS drug
Est. national TV ad spend: $21 million (up from $18.3 million in July)
Number of spots: Two (one Alzheimer’s, one depression)
Biggest-ticket ad: “Journey” (est. $10.6 million)
5. Ozempic
Movement: Up one spot
What is it? Novo Nordisk’s injectable GLP-1 diabetes drug
Est. national TV ad spend: $12.1 million (up from $10.1 million in July)
Number of spots: One
Biggest-ticket ad: “Discover the Ozempic Tri-Zone: Boxing” (est. $12.1 million)
6. Arexvy
Movement: Not listed last month
What is it? GSK’s RSV vaccine
Est. national TV ad spend: $11.9 million (up from $5.3 million in July)
Number of spots: Four
Biggest-ticket ad: “RSV Is Out There” (est. $7 million)
7. Jardiance
Movement: Down two spots
What is it? Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim’s diabetes treatment
Est. national TV ad spend: $11.5 million (flat from July)
Number of spots: Two
Biggest-ticket ad: “Musical: Garden” (est. $7.1 million)
8. Keytruda
Movement: Up two spots
What is it? Merck’s oncology drug
Est. national TV ad spend: $8.8 million (up from $6.9 million in July)
Number of spots: Five
Biggest-ticket ad: “Known For: Dreams, Tradition, New Places: 17 Types” (est. $3.4 million)
9. Austedo
Movement: Not listed last month
What is it? Teva’s drug that helps reduce chorea or involuntary movements in adults with Huntington's disease or tardive dyskinesia.
Est. national TV ad spend: $8.7 million (up from $5.8 million in July)
Number of spots: Two
Biggest-ticket ad: “Kate” (est. $4.6 million)
10. Otezla
Movement: Down two spots
What is it? Amgen’s plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis drug
Est. national TV ad spend: $8.3 million (up from $7.9 million in July)
Number of spots: Two
Biggest-ticket ad: “Spotlight” (est. $5.7 million)