Cardiovascular disease remains the world's leading cause of death, making treatments for heart disease among the pharmaceutical industry's most valuable assets. Analysts expect the global cardiovascular drug market to exceed $200 billion by 2033, driven by ageing populations, better diagnosis and the arrival of new precision medicines.
That enormous commercial opportunity has created an industry where scientific innovation sits alongside fierce legal, commercial and marketing competition. As blockbuster drugs compete for physician adoption, reimbursement and long-term market share, companies increasingly battle not only in the laboratory but also in courtrooms, before regulators and through marketing campaigns. While breakthrough therapies have extended and improved countless lives, critics argue that the race for market dominance has also encouraged aggressive patent strategies, controversial marketing and pricing practices that have repeatedly drawn regulatory scrutiny.
