Most people are familiar with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). After all, many of the world's most well-known pharmaceutical companies were originally started through research and development activities done specifically for TCM.

Nowadays, TCM continues to grow in popularity, with more and more people looking to this ancient healing tradition as a way to treat ailments that modern medicine has not yet found a solution for. In fact, a 2017 global study showed that more than half of the world's population (56.9%) are using some type of natural product (herbal medicine, vitamins, or food supplements) to supplement their health.

So, if you're interested in becoming more familiar with TCM, Read on! Here we will discuss some of the most popular and well-known companies that are responsible for many of the medications that you might have heard of.

Michelin

Michelin is one of the world's most famous and popular tire companies. They even make cooking and entertaining suggestions based on the type of tires you have. For example, if you have racing tires, they might suggest that you entertain your guests with a high-speed game of car-chasing. If you have touring tires, they might suggest that you take a leisurely drive and enjoy the sights. And if you have safety tires, they might suggest that you bring a blanket and sit in the back with a good book.

The reason why this company is so popular is that they make excellent products. While other companies often focus on creating a brand identity, they approach marketing with an engineering mindset, taking into consideration all of the factors that make up an automobile. It's no wonder that car collectors and enthusiasts often buy their products.

GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline is the London-based biopharmaceutical company that creates and promotes innovative therapies for human diseases. One of their notable products is the diabetes medication Avandia. It's a good example of how the company's founders saw a need and worked to solve it. They started developing drugs and devices to treat heart disease and stroke in the 1950s and 60s. The medication Avandia has been around since 1999 and received FDA approval in 2002.

While Avandia is a great example of a Glaxo product, it's important to note that they also develop other pharmaceutical drugs, including the Alzheimer's medication Aricept. It's also worth mentioning that Glaxo is currently one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. With a market value of approximately $140 billion, it's apparent that they've had some success in the marketplace. However, it's important to keep in mind that they're still a pharmaceutical company at heart, and most people associate their name with medicine.

Novartis

The Swiss-based company Novartis creates and markets pharmaceutical products, nutritional products, and animal health products. One of their more well-known medications is Folate Receptor Antagonist (Folinate). It's a common name for a type of chemotherapy drug used to treat certain types of cancer. This drug was approved in 2017 and is the result of a collaboration between Novartis and Constellation Pharmaceuticals. The drug was developed to target receptors on the surface of cancer cells, which allows the body's immune system to more effectively attack these aggressive cells.

The partnership between Novartis and Constellation also produced the drug Entrectinib. This was previously known as Regorafenib and is another drug used in the treatment of cancer. In 2018, the drug was approved by the FDA as a treatment for certain types of tumors, including GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor).

Pfizer

The company Pfizer is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. It was founded in 1849 and is originally from New York. However, even though they're a US company, Pfizer continues to operate worldwide, with over 200 locations across the globe. Most people are probably familiar with the company because of the lipitor medication that they market. Lipitor is a brand of cholesterol medication that was originally developed by Pfizer and approved by the FDA back in 1996. It's a good example of how the company has successfully transitioned from creating medications for animals to helping people live a healthier and happier life.

Hansen

The company Hansen makes life-saving drugs and medical devices used in the treatment of hemophilia and other blood-related diseases. They were founded way back in the 1800s and are headquartered in Denmark. The name Hansen is often associated with ice hockey, since two of their early employees were the founders of the first professional ice hockey league in Europe. Even though they make these products for blood-related illnesses, it's important to remember that they also develop medications for other diseases, such as cancer and Alzheimer's. Unfortunately, like many other pharmaceutical companies, they've struggled with staying profitable, as reflected by their shares falling as low as $5.60 per share in 2016.

Hansen has a partnership with the non-profit organization the Global Organization for Hemophilia, where they provide medication and funding for hemophilia treatment centers around the world. It's a great example of a for-profit company using their resources for the greater good. Even though they make drugs to save lives, it's still a for-profit company at heart.

Sanofi

Sanofi is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, with a market value of around $142 billion. They make medications, over-the-counter products, and nutritional supplements. One of their more well-known products is the diabetes medication Lexapro. It's a good example of how they've become a multinational company, with headquarters in Europe, North America, and South Africa. In 2017, it was reported that they were exploring a potential IPO, as interest in the stock market continues to be highly sought after by investors. Even though they make a wide range of products, Lexapro is still their best-selling medication.

Schering-Plough

The company Schering-Plough is the result of a merger between the pharmaceutical companies Schering and Plough. It's one of the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies, with a market value of almost $160 billion. They make medications, including antibiotics, for diseases such as AIDS, ADHD, osteoporosis, and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). One of their more well-known products is the anti-biotic Abxiet. It's a good example of how global pharma continues to merge and expand, owning factories in multiple locations across the globe. Even though it's a big company, they've struggled to stay profitable, with shares falling to around $11.00 per share in early 2019.

Merck

Merck is the result of a merger between two pharmaceutical companies, Merck & Co. and Co. All rights reserved (Merck & Co.). It's one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. In 2019, they had a market value of over $166 billion, making it the 15th largest pharmaceutical company in the world.

Even though Merck makes products for diseases such as hypertension, cholesterol, and diabetes, they also make veterinary medicines, including vaccines and antibiotics. One of the company's more well-known medications is Dovonex. It's a steroidal compound with avian medicinal properties that the company was first developed to treat chicken pox and other chicken-related illnesses. Even though it's been around for decades, it's still one of the company's most popular medications.

Takeda

Takeda is the result of a merger between the pharmaceutical companies Shinogi & Kabuki. It's one of the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies. In 2019, they had a market value of over $169 billion. One of its best-known products is a cholesterol medication known as Ticlopidine. It's a drug that prevents platelets (small blood cells that help in the formation of clots) from sticking to the walls of blood vessels.

Johnson & Johnson

The company Johnson & Johnson is one of the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies. In 2019, they had a market value of almost $180 billion. They make a range of medications, including anti-biotics and hormone replacement therapies. One of their more famous hormone replacement products is Estrogovine. It's aproestrogen, which the company developed in the 1950s as a treatment for menopause. Even though it's been around since the 1950s, it's still one of the company's best-selling medications.