Money Spent on Research Yields New Medicines

Money invested by pharmaceutical companies in research is paying real dividends for consumers.

That's one of the key messages of a report that states that over 300 new drugs, biologics and vaccines have been approved over the past 10 years to prevent and treat over 150 conditions.

Titled A Decade of Innovation, the report-produced by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)-describes how pharmaceutical innovations have advanced the treatment of eight major diseases-high blood pressure, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and HIV/AIDS.

"Many patients can now be treated effectively with medicines, instead of facing invasive surgery, lengthy hospital stays, or debilitating chronic conditions. At just 10 cents out of each health care dollar, our investment in medicines is producing large benefits for patients," said Alan Holmer, president and CEO of PhRMA.

Examples of achievements cited in the report include:

• Four new classes of oral medicines and two new types of insulin that have allowed diabetic patients better control of their condition
• Three new classes of medicines (two drugs and one biologic) to improve the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
• Medicines that did not exist as recently as 1993 and are now the standard of care in mild-to-moderate stages of Alzheimer's disease.

"Examples such as these should give patients waiting for new medicines confidence in the ongoing research commitment and continued discoveries emerging from American pharmaceutical research companies," said Holmer.

"People often forget how different medical care was just 10 or 15 years ago because we did not have the medicines that are available to us today," said J.D. Kleinke, a noted health economist who took part in a same-day briefing announcing the release of the report.

According to Holmer, the public has only begun to reap the benefits of the investment in pharmaceutical discovery. Said Holmer, "The story of pharmaceutical discovery and its importance to people living healthier and longer lives is also a story of renewed hope and restored futures."

Medicines that did not exist as recently as 1993 are now the standard of care in mild-to-moderate stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Courtesy of NAPSnet.