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Lessons from 60 years of pharmaceutical innovation
1Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, USA. b.munos@lilly.com
Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery
|December 2, 2009
Summary
Despite increased pharmaceutical research and development (R&D) investment, new drug approvals remain constant. This suggests current R&D models, not a decline in output, may limit pharmaceutical innovation.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical industry analysis
- Drug development trends
- Regulatory science
Background:
- Pharmaceutical research and development (R&D) investment has significantly increased.
- The number of new drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has remained consistently low.
- Understanding the dynamics of pharmaceutical innovation is crucial for industry sustainability.
Observation:
- Analysis of approximately 1,200 new drugs approved by the FDA since 1950 was conducted.
- Data focused on the companies responsible for introducing these new drugs.
- Trends in new drug output over several decades were examined.
Findings:
- Pharmaceutical companies' new-drug output has been relatively constant since 1950.
- This constant output persists despite substantial R&D investment aimed at increasing it.
- The study challenges the perception of a depressed new-drug pipeline.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that current pharmaceutical R&D models may have inherent limitations.
- The constant output might reflect the practical constraints of drug discovery and development.
- Exploring alternative R&D models is essential for the long-term sustainability of the pharmaceutical industry.
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