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Medicines in Development for Older Americans
The population of Americans over 65 is on the rise, and the pace will only increase in coming years. Indeed, beginning in just three short years, the first of America’s baby-boom generation will begin turning age 65. As life expectancy continues to rise, older Americans face new and growing challenges to their health, productivity and independence—from geriatric conditions to complications from diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are working to help Americans live longer, healthier and more productive lives. A new report finds that more than 2,000 medicines are in development for diseases of aging, including 277 for heart disease and stroke, 750 for cancer, and 1,026 for such debilitating diseases as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Detailed information on medicines in the pipeline for cardiovascular diseases and for cancer may be found at www.phrma.org. Medicines in development for diseases of aging in this report include:
- 91 for Alzheimer’s disease, which could afflict 16 million people by 2050 unless a cure or prevention is found.
- 56 for depression, which affects an estimated 6.5 million Americans 65 and older.
- 150 for diabetes, which affects 12.2 million Americans age 60 and older.
- 30 for osteoporosis, a major health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans age 50 and older.
- 32 for Parkinson’s disease, 60,000 new cases of which are diagnosed each year.
Other medicines in development for older Americans target bladder and kidney diseases, eye disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, osteoarthritis, pain, prostate disease, lung and respiratory disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, skin conditions and other conditions of aging. All of the medicines in this report are either in human clinical trials or await approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Many of the medicines use cutting-edge knowledge and technology to attack diseases in different ways. These include:
- A medicine that aims to prevent or reverse progression of Alzheimer’s disease by using a human monoclonal antibody specifically designed to remove beta amyloid protein from the brain.
- One potential first-in-class medicine being developed addresses the underlying cause of type 2 diabetes by modulating genes responsible for insulin sensitization.
- A potential medicine that activates ion channels in the brain that are important in the regulation of certain nerve cells. In clinical trials, the medicine has shown activity against epileptic seizures.
Important as these medicines in development are, the medicines only work if those in need can get them. Fortunately, the effort to help seniors get the medicines they need at affordable prices has improved with Medicare’s guaranteed prescription drug benefit, which was instituted in 2006.
These medicines in development provide new hope to older Americans seeking to live longer, more independent and healthier lives.
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