American Pharmaceutical Transnational Corporations: Global Influence and Challenges of the Present

The article examines the current features of the functioning of American pharmaceutical transnational corporations (TNCs), which hold leading positions in the global market of medicines. The author analyzes the economic, scientific, technological and political factors that determine their dominant role in the healthcare sector. Considerable attention is paid to the mechanisms through which American pharmaceutical TNCs form strategic competitive advantages: large-scale investments in research and development (R&D), a global network of production and research centers, a strong patent policy, partnerships with universities, institutes and governments, as well as an active mergers and acquisitions policy. The paper conducts a SWOT analysis of the internal and external environment of the leading American TNCs (Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co, AbbVie, Eli Lilly), which allows identifying key strengths (innovation, high level of digitalization, global market access), weaknesses (high cost of research, dependence on patent protection, reputational risks), opportunities (development of personalized medicine, digital technologies, growing demand for biological products) and threats (geopolitical instability, competition from EU and Asian companies, increased regulatory pressure and criticism of pricing policy). In the context of increased global competition, the article highlights the active expansion of Asian and European companies (Roche, Novartis, Sanofi, Takeda, Samsung Biologics), which put pressure on American manufacturers in terms of affordability, innovation and localization of production. The article also examines the prospects for the development of American pharmaceutical TNCs in the light of the latest trends: the spread of mRNA technologies, the introduction of artificial intelligence into the drug development process, the growing demand for gene therapy, the focus on rare niche diseases, as well as the greening of production and the formation of ethical standards. The author emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between commercial benefits and corporate social responsibility in the field of global health in the face of growing criticism from society and international organizations.