Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies working on nearly 200 new medicines to treat diabetes

Feb 19 2010

A Stratton Spotlight article recently highlighted a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey that showed a dramatic rise in the number of diabetes cases during the last 10 years and noted that pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are working on nearly 200 new medicines to treat this debilitating disease.

The rate of new cases of diabetes increased by more than 90 percent among adults over the last 10 years, and fatalities associated with diabetes increased by 45 percent in two decades, according to the CDC study.

To help treat the disease, America's pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are working on 183 new medicines. These medicines include 133 for people with type 2 diabetes, and 26 new medicines for patients with type 1 diabetes. The remaining 34 medications would help treat other forms of the disease, such as gestational diabetes, as well as serious conditions spurred by the presence of diabetes.

The medicines are currently in different stages of research, either going through clinical trials or awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"The diabetes medicines now in the research pipeline are contributing substantially to the incredible progress made in the last five years by biopharmaceutical companies in developing new and more effective diabetes treatments," said Billy Tauzin, PhRMA president and CEO. "The nation must continue its strong commitment to the cutting-edge pharmaceutical research that enables today's diabetes patients to manage their disease and lead productive lives."

SOURCE Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America