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Medicines in Development

All patients - whether fighting deadly diseases or managing long-term, chronic conditions -- live in the hope that tomorrow will bring the promise of new medicines and improved therapies. America’s biopharmaceutical research companies work hard every day to live up to those understandably high expectations and meet our common goals: improved health and developing better treatment options.

The world of health care has seen remarkable advances in our lifetimes. But that progress must continue. That’s why our researchers are immersed in the discovery and development of potential new medicines and therapies that one day may give patients and physicians new weapons in the fight against disease.

With more than $49 billion invested in research and development last year on roughly 2,900 medicines currently in development, the promise is stronger than ever.

Featured Report

Older Americans

With the population of Americans over 65 on the rise and life expectancy climbing, chronic diseases remain a principal threat to the health and productivity of older Americans, as well as to rising health care costs. Innovative medicines have led to major advances against many chronic diseases – and the robust discovery pipeline of new medicines portends continued progress for seniors and our health care system. America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are developing 465 new medicines that target the 10 leading chronic conditions affecting seniors.

African Americans

In a continuing drive to close the health gap between African Americans and the majority population, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are developing nearly 700 new medicines for disease that disproportionately afflict African Americans or diseases that are among the top 10 causes of death among African Americans, according to a report.

Alzheimer's

There are more than five million Americans living with Alzheimer’s. Hope for the future lies in medical innovation. America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are investigating or developing 97 medicines for patients with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. This research will help to bring us closer to our goal of tackling and eventually conquering this debilitating disease.

Arthritis

America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are currently developing 198 medicines to help the more than 50 million Americans afflicted with at least one of the 100 different musculoskeletal disorders, including arthritis. All of the medicines are either in clinical trials or awaiting review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Asthma

Asthma is a narrowing of the airways to the lungs caused by inflammation in the air passages, resulting from both genetic and environmental influences. Today, more than 24 million American adults and children suffer from asthma, with the prevalence increasing 12 percent in the last decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each day, 40,000 Americans miss school or work due to asthma, costing the U.S. economy an estimated $56 billion each year in direct and indirect costs.

Biologics

Millions of people already have benefited from medicines and vaccines developed through biotechnology, and a new report offers hope that many more will benefit in the future. The survey found over 900 biotechnology medicines in development for over 100 diseases. These include 352 medicines for cancer, 188 for infectious diseases, 69 for autoimmune diseases, and 39 for AIDS/HIV and related conditions. 

Cancer

America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are testing 981 medicines and vaccines to help in the fight against cancer, for the more than 1.6 million new cases that are expected in 2012. Researchers’ deep commitment to patients and advancing science is at the core of the remarkable progress made in fighting cancer.

Children

America’s biopharmaceutical companies are researching 316 medicines to help meet the unique health care needs of children and adolescents. Considerable progress in the fight against diseases that impact children has been achieved in recent decades, with medicines playing a key role.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are working on 54 medicines to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), for the more than 13 million American adults that suffer from the disease. COPD is a progressive lower respiratory disease that encompasses two main conditions – chronic bronchitis and emphysema – COPD is characterized by obstructed airflow to the lungs that interferes with normal breathing.

Diabetes

Diabetes affects nearly 26 million Americans —8.3 percent of the U.S. population—and about one-quarter are unaware they have the disease. America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are developing 221 medicines to treat diabetes and related conditions. All of the medicines in this report are either in clinical trials or awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The medicines in the pipeline represent an exciting new chapter in the ongoing quest to better treat this debilitating disease

Heart Disease and Stroke

Keeping up the momentum of drug discovery that has helped cut deaths from heart disease and stroke in half in the past three decades, biopharmaceutical companies are working on 312 medicines for these diseases. All of the medicines are either in clinical trials or awaiting approval by the Food and Drug Administration.

Hispanics

Pharmaceutical researchers are developing 258 new medicines for diseases that disproportionately affect the nation’s 42.6 million Hispanic Americans, according to a report by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The report was conducted in cooperation with the Interamerican College of Physicians and Surgeons and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health.

HIV/AIDS

Over the past 30 years, nearly 40 medicines have been approved to treat HIV/AIDS. Testing for the disease also has advanced dramatically, enabling earlier treatment. While these medicines have helped to prolong the lives of HIV-infected patients, making HIV a manageable chronic disease, opportunities for even greater progress remain. Biopharmaceutical research companies are developing 73 medicines and vaccines, focusing on improved treatment regimens, more effective therapies and promising new preventative solutions.

Infectious Disease

Critical challenges remain in the centuries-old battles against infectious diseases, particularly as bacteria and viruses mutate and as the threat of bioterrorism grows. Responding to this need, America’s biopharmaceutical research companies have 395 new medicines and vaccines in the pipeline to fight infectious diseases.

Mental Illness

Pharmaceutical research is targeting mental illnesses with nearly 200 medicines in development to help the more than 300 million people worldwide who suffer from some form of mental illness -- from anxiety to depression and from schizophrenia to addictive disorders, such as dependence on alcohol or drugs. All of the medicines are either in clinical trials or awaiting approval by the Food and Drug Administration.

Neurological Disorders

New studies show that older patients are particularly susceptible to many neurologic diseases, including Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, Parkinson’s and stroke. In addition to the terrible human toll of neurologic disorders, the diseases annually cost the U.S. economy hundreds of billions of dollars in care, lost work days, and reduced productivity. Alzheimer’s disease alone costs more than $148 billion a year, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

New Drug Approvals

In 2011, 35 new medicines were added to the nation’s medicine chest for better prevention and treatment of disease. The medicines include 24 new drugs (also called new molecular entities or NMEs), six therapeutic biologics, and five other biologics. Eleven of the new medicines are orphan drugs.
 

Older Americans

With the population of Americans over 65 on the rise and life expectancy climbing, chronic diseases remain a principal threat to the health and productivity of older Americans, as well as to rising health care costs. Innovative medicines have led to major advances against many chronic diseases – and the robust discovery pipeline of new medicines portends continued progress for seniors and our health care system. America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are developing 465 new medicines that target the 10 leading chronic conditions affecting seniors.

Parkinson's Disease

America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are currently developing 36 medicines to help the nearly 1 million Americans suffering from Parkinson’s disease, a motor system disorder resulting from the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. All of the medicines are either in clinical trials or awaiting review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

 

Rare Diseases

The National Institutes of Health estimates that there are approximately 6,000 rare diseases affecting 25 million Americans. A rare disease is defined as a condition affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. In the past, treatment options for such conditions have been nonexistent or limited, but approval of several new medicines in this research sector over the last few years has fostered great progress.

Skin Diseases

America’s biopharmaceutical research companies currently are developing 277 medicines to help the more than 100 million Americans, one third of the U.S. population, that suffer from at least one skin disease. Skin diseases, ranging from acne to psoriasis and from melanoma to infections, are more common than most people know and they come with not only a medical but also a financial burden. According to a study by the Lewin Group, the total annual cost of skin diseases was estimated at $39.3 billion in 2005.

Vaccines

America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are working on 295 vaccines for the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of diseases. For many years, vaccines have been used to successfully prevent diseases such as smallpox, measles, polio and other infectious diseases. But vaccines are not only for preventing infectious diseases, newer vaccines are proving protections against a wide array of other diseases, including cancer prevention

Women

Pharmaceutical researchers are developing more than 800 medicines for diseases that disproportionately affect women.

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