Big Pharma

American  

[big fahr-muh] / ˈbɪg ˈfɑr mə /

Or big pharma

noun

1. pharmaceutical companies considered collectively, especially with reference to their political and commercial influence.

   The article attributes rising medical costs to private healthcare, Big Pharma, and insurance.

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Etymology

Origin of Big Pharma

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Big Pharma

“It’s a genuine place to be. I worried about going into Big Pharma and feeling evil. Novo felt wonderful. It was so focused on patient care, on science.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026

It’s early days, but Big Pharma has been racing to own the technology.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

In the world of Big Pharma, this is unheard of.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 7, 2026

Lilly has long been a Wall Street darling, commanding a far higher earnings multiple than its Big Pharma peers.

From Barron's ● Nov. 21, 2025

For Big Pharma, the triumph of developing a new lifesaving blockbuster drug that generates billions in revenue is inevitably followed by the reality that drug patents have an expiration date.

From Barron's ● Nov. 20, 2025