Pharmaceutical Research Companies and Developing 132 Biotechnology Medicines

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Pharmaceutical
Manufacturers
Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judith A. Shuler
October 2, 1991 [phone]
PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH COMPANIES ARE DEVELOPING
132 BIOTECHNOLOGY MEDICINES
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- At least 132 biotechnology-based drugs and
vaccines are in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry's research and -_
development pipeline, an increase of 63 percent since 1988, a
according to a new survey released here today by the
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PMA).s"
Of those products, 21 are pending approval by the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA), compared to 15 in 1988.
"We found there is continued vigorous growth in the number
of drugs in development that are created through the techniques
of biotechnology," said PMA President Gerald J. Mossinghoff.
The PMA released the survey results in a report titled
Biotechnology Medicines in Development. The survey found that
half -- 66 -- of the medicines in development are being tested
for cancer or cancer-related conditions. This is 26 more cancer
drugs and 9 more AIDS-related medicines than the PMA found in
1988.
"Despite this rapid growth in research, only 3 biotechnology
medicines have been approved since our last survey 16 months ago,
and only 14 medicines have been approved in the past 9 years,"
Mossinghoff said. "This is an average of about one and a half
(more)
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