Based on IQVIA Market Prognosis forecasts published in March 2021, this article reviews the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmaceutical sales in eight major developed markets (US, Japan, Canada, the EU4 – Germany, France, Italy, Spain – and the UK) and six pharmerging markets (BRICTM – Brazil, Russia, India, China, Turkey and Mexico) over the first year of the pandemic, and outlines prospects for recovery.