5 Biggest Pharmaceutical ETFs in 2025

Big Pharma ETFs

To help investors learn more about ETFs focused on the pharmaceutical sector, the Investing News Network presents the five top pharma ETFs by total assets under management, according to ETFdb.com.

Many of these funds have diverse holdings across some of the most important sectors in the pharmaceutical industry, including pain therapeutics, oncology, vaccines and biotechnology. Data was gathered on August 11, 2025.

1. iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF (ARCA:IHE)

Total assets under management: US$539.44 million

Created on May 5, 2006, this iShares ETF tracks some of the top US pharma companies. In total, the iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF has 41 holdings, with the vast majority being large-cap stocks.

Of its holdings, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) are by far the largest portions in its portfolio, coming in at weightings of 25.51 percent and 17.68 percent, respectively. The next highest are Royalty Pharma (NASDAQ:RPRX) at 5.04 percent, Viatris (NASDAQ:VTRS) at 4.94 percent and Merck & Co (NYSE:MRK) at 4.59 percent.

2. VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (NASDAQ:PPH)

Total assets under management: US$494.34 million

Established in late 2011, the VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF tracks the MVIS US Listed Pharmaceutical 25 Index. It has the capacity to provide big returns, even though there are some risks attached to the ETF. An analyst report indicates that investors looking for "tactical exposure" to the pharma sector might consider this ETF as an investment option.

The ETF has 25 holdings, with the top five being Eli Lilly at a weight of 15.81percent, Johnson & Johnson at 12.08 percent, Novartis (NYSE:NVS) at 7.80 percent, Merck & Co. at 6.33 percent and Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) at 5.94 percent.

3. Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (ARCA:PJP)

Total assets under management: US$240.1 million

The Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF is primarily focused on providing exposure to US-based pharma companies. An analyst report states that this ETF chooses individual securities based on certain investment criteria, namely stock valuation and risk factors. Invesco changed the fund's name from the Invesco Dynamic Pharmaceuticals ETF in August 2023.

This ETF was started on June 23, 2005, and currently tracks 31 companies. Its top holdings are Johnson & Johnson with a weight of 5.25 percent, Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) at 5.08 percent, AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) at 4.95 percent, and both Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and Merck & Co. at 4.83 percent each.

4. SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (ARCA:XPH)

Total assets under management: US$150.91 million

The SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF came into the market on June 19, 2006, and represents the pharmaceutical sub-industry sector of the S&P Total Market Index (INDEXSP:SPTMI).

An analyst report for the ETF suggests that due to its narrow focus — which includes pharma giants that post "big returns" during times of consolidation — it should not be considered for a long-term portfolio.

This pharma ETF tracks 43 holdings, with relatively close weighting among its holdings. XPH's top five holdings are Elanco Animal Health (NYSE:ELAN) with a weight of 4.21 percent, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:TARS) with a weight of 4.18 percent, Johnson & Johnson at 4.02 percent, Royalty Pharma at 3.98 percent and Viatris at 3.89 percent.

5. KraneShares MSCI All China Health Care Index ETF

Total assets under management: US$111.67 million

The KraneShares MSCI All China Health Care Index ETF was launched in February 2018 and tracks an index of large- and mid-cap Chinese stocks in the healthcare sector, all weighted by market capitalization. According to an analyst report, the fund provides investors with "exposure to a relatively small slice of the Chinese economy."

The ETF tracks 46 holdings, and its top five are BeOne Medicines at 8.26 percent, Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine (SHA:600276) at 8.24 percent, WuXi Biologics (HKEX:2269) at 6.71 percent, Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics (SZSE:300760) at 5.95 percent and CSPC Pharmaceutical Group (HKEX:1093) at 5.39 percent.