| The U.S. has fallen behind Europe when it comes to | | | | drugs but they aren't necessarily offering exceptional |
| drug research and development. A new study shows | | | | quality drugs to patients. These high prices allow the |
| that European pharmaceutical companies outrank | | | | companies to spend 2.5 more on marketing these |
| their U.S. counterparts when it comes to biotech, | | | | drugs, compared to spending money on into research |
| first-in-class and orphan products. | | | | and development. Unfortunately, the U.S. drug |
| Pharmaceutical consultants state that this evidence is | | | | development system holds more value over sales |
| a blow to the United States. While President Obama | | | | and marketing compared to the discovery and |
| tackles the controversial health care reform debate, | | | | therapeutic value of drug development. |
| this study raises further awareness of the high cost | | | | Europe is also far advanced compared to the U.S. |
| of out-of-pocket medication expenses for U.S. | | | | when it comes to biotech. European researchers |
| consumers. | | | | have played integral roles in the development of |
| European research and development isn't nearly as | | | | proteomics and sequencing genomes. Compared to |
| costly compared to the high cost of | | | | their U.S. counterparts, European biotech companies |
| patent-protected drugs in the U.S. - this is where the | | | | are making huge impacts in global markets when it |
| U.S. falls short. The study examined new chemical | | | | comes to drug discoveries. |
| entities (NCEs) from 1982 through 2003. These drugs | | | | Even European firms specializing in basic technology |
| (NCEs) are introduced to the world's largest markets. | | | | such as chemical libraries and throughput screening |
| The study focused on the percentage of drug | | | | are thriving, and use more advanced business models |
| research funds to the percentage of NCEs credited | | | | compared to the U.S. Companies in the Netherlands |
| to the U.S., Europe and Japan. Each area of research | | | | and Sweden combine both advanced scientific |
| was measured for productivity. | | | | technology and academic knowledge when it comes |
| The study found that the U.S research funding | | | | to R&D. |
| increased between 1990 and 2000; however, its | | | | The study concludes that the United States is lagging |
| research relativity remained at only .75. As a result, | | | | far behind in pharmaceutical innovation. As the U.S |
| pharmaceutical companies in the U.S discovered | | | | continues to tackle with its health care reform issues |
| fewer drugs (compared to their R&D spending). | | | | and the rising costs of drugs, they need to take a |
| However, Europe launched more new treatments to | | | | lesson from European science. |
| the market than expected (as compared to the | | | | Biotech, research and drug discovery are at the |
| proportion of their R&D spending) | | | | forefront in Europe. Pharmaceutical consultancy firms |
| Another key component of the study showed that | | | | believe the U.S. needs to jump on board when it |
| evidence doesn't support that most new drugs are | | | | comes to new research tools, diagnostics and |
| high quality or even beneficial/important to patients | | | | therapeutics, or they will continue to fall behind |
| using these drugs. Many drugs on the U.S market, | | | | Europe and the rest of the world. |
| such as new cancer-related drugs, bring in large | | | | If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. |
| profits at high costs. The biggest issue is that these | | | | They'll thank you for it. If you have a blog or |
| drugs have not been clinically proven as better than | | | | website, you can link to it or even post it to your |
| existing cancer drugs. | | | | own site (don't forget to mention as the original |
| U.S. pharmaceutical companies may develop more | | | | source. |