The FDA approved 41 new drugs in 2014. This is the highest number since 53 approvals in 1996, and 14 more than 2013’s 27 approvals. Many of the new drugs are for rare diseases and treatments for cancer. Close to 40% of the new drugs were approved for rare diseases, illustrating the industry’s increasing focus on orphan drugs. Two new cancer drugs, Merck’s Keytruda and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo, fight tumors with help from the body’s immune cells.
FDA approves record 41 new drugs in 2014, over 40% for rare diseases
