Brand Finance’s latest data reveals three Chinese brands ranked among world’s strongest brands in the sector
BEIJING, 8 April 2025 – Chinese pharmaceutical brands are surging in brand strength, according to the latest Healthcare 2025 report by Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. Sinopharm, Guangzhou Pharmaceutical, and SPH recorded the most significant gains in brand strength rankings, reinforcing China’s growing influence in the global healthcare sector. All three brands now rank among the world’s top 10 strongest pharma brands, underscoring their rising reputation and competitive edge on the global stage.
Sinopharm (brand value up 6% to USD3.8 billion) made the most significant leap in this year’s rankings, climbing 13 places to rank as the fourth strongest pharmaceutical brand globally with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 74.4/100. This upward trajectory also elevated its brand strength rating from AA- to AA. Sinopharm’s rise is largely driven by its strong reputation and growing brand admiration within its home market, solidifying its leadership in China’s healthcare sector.
Guangzhou Pharmaceutical (brand value up 1% to USD2.5 billion) ranked as the fifth strongest pharmaceutical brand globally, an eight-place jump from 2024. As South China's largest pharmaceutical brand, it saw a modest rise in its BSI score to 71.6/100, driven by strong brand familiarity and a solid reputation. While maintaining its AA brand strength rating, the brand’s continued growth signals its expanding influence and consumer trust in the healthcare sector.
Meanwhile, SPH (brand value up 5% to USD1.5 billion) leaped nine places to rank as the 10th strongest pharmaceutical brand in the world, with a BSI score of 63.2/100 and an A+ brand strength rating. This upward momentum highlights SPH’s strong reputation, expanding international appeal, and growing impact in the healthcare sector. As the brand gains global recognition, its sustained growth underscores its ability to adapt and lead in an evolving industry.
Scott Chen, Managing Director, Brand Finance China, commented
"The remarkable rise of Chinese pharmaceutical brands in Brand Finance latest rankings reflects a broader shift in the global healthcare landscape. Sinopharm, Guangzhou Pharmaceutical, and SPH are not only strengthening their domestic presence but also enhancing their international credibility. Their growth—driven by strong market reputation, strategic innovation, and increasing global recognition—has propelled them into the global top 10 for brand strength, positioning them as key players in the future of healthcare.”
Global Insights
Johnson & Johnson has solidified its position as the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical brand (brand value up 16% to USD15.5 billion) for the seventh year in a row. J&J is also the strongest pharma brand, with a BSI score of 83.5/100.
Medtronic has become the most valuable medical device brand, (brand value up 2% to USD7.4 billion). This marks a shift at the top of the ranking, as Fresenius (brand value down 5% to USD7.3 billion), which held the top spot in 2024, saw its brand value decline.
Brand Finance is the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. Bridging the gap between marketing and finance, Brand Finance evaluates the strength of brands and quantifies their financial value to help organisations make strategic decisions.
Headquartered in London, Brand Finance operates in over 25 countries. Every year, Brand Finance conducts more than 6,000 brand valuations, supported by original market research, and publishes over 100 reports which rank brands across all sectors and countries.
Brand Finance also operates the Global Brand Equity Monitor, conducting original market research annually on 6,000 brands, surveying more than 175,000 respondents across 41 countries and 31 industry sectors. By combining perceptual data from the Global Brand Equity Monitor with data from its valuation database — the largest brand value database in the world — Brand Finance equips ambitious brand leaders with the data, analytics, and the strategic guidance they need to enhance brand and business value.
In addition to calculating brand value, Brand Finance also determines the relative strength of brands through a balanced scorecard of metrics evaluating marketing investment, stakeholder equity, and business performance, compliant with ISO 20671.
Brand Finance is a regulated accountancy firm and a committed leader in the standardisation of the brand valuation industry. Brand Finance was the first to be certified by independent auditors as compliant with both ISO 10668 and ISO 20671 and has received the official endorsement of the Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) in the United States.
Brand is defined as a marketing-related intangible asset including, but not limited to, names, terms, signs, symbols, logos, and designs, intended to identify goods, services, or entities, creating distinctive images and associations in the minds of stakeholders, thereby generating economic benefits.
Brand strength is the efficacy of a brand’s performance on intangible measures relative to its competitors. Brand Finance evaluates brand strength in a process compliant with ISO 20671, looking at Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and the impact of those on Business Performance. The data used is derived from Brand Finance’s proprietary market research programme and from publicly available sources.
Each brand is assigned a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score out of 100, which feeds into the brand value calculation. Based on the score, each brand is assigned a corresponding Brand Rating up to AAA+ in a format similar to a credit rating.
Brand Finance calculates the values of brands in its rankings using the Royalty Relief approach – a brand valuation method compliant with the industry standards set in ISO 10668. It involves estimating the likely future revenues that are attributable to a brand by calculating a royalty rate that would be charged for its use, to arrive at a ‘brand value’ understood as a net economic benefit that a brand owner would achieve by licensing the brand in the open market.
The steps in this process are as follows:
1 Calculate brand strength using a balanced scorecard of metrics assessing Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and Business Performance. Brand strength is expressed as a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score on a scale of 0 to 100.
2 Determine royalty range for each industry, reflecting the importance of brand to purchasing decisions. In luxury, the maximum percentage is high, while in extractive industry, where goods are often commoditised, it is lower. This is done by reviewing comparable licensing agreements sourced from Brand Finance’s extensive database.
3 Calculate royalty rate. The BSI score is applied to the royalty range to arrive at a royalty rate. For example, if the royalty range in a sector is 0-5% and a brand has a BSI score of 80 out of 100, then an appropriate royalty rate for the use of this brand in the given sector will be 4%.
4 Determine brand-specific revenues by estimating a proportion of parent company revenues attributable to a brand.
5 Determine forecast revenues using a function of historic revenues, equity analyst forecasts, and economic growth rates.
6 Apply the royalty rate to the forecast revenues to derive brand revenues.
7 Discount post-tax brand revenues to a net present value which equals the brand value.
Brand Finance has produced this study with an independent and unbiased analysis. The values derived and opinions presented in this study are based on publicly available information and certain assumptions that Brand Finance used where such data was deficient or unclear. Brand Finance accepts no responsibility and will not be liable in the event that the publicly available information relied upon is subsequently found to be inaccurate. The opinions and financial analysis expressed in the study are not to be construed as providing investment or business advice. Brand Finance does not intend the study to be relied upon for any reason and excludes all liability to any body, government, or organisation.
The data presented in this study form part of Brand Finance's proprietary database, are provided for the benefit of the media, and are not to be used in part or in full for any commercial or technical purpose without written permission from Brand Finance.
