Since 1998, the US FDA has approved 3 drugs for brain cancer, 10 for lung cancer and 7 for melanoma. However, for brain cancer, 75 drugs failed in development, 167 therapies for lung cancer failed in clinical trials, and 96 drugs for melanoma failed in development. Presently, in the US, 47 new therapies for brain cancer and 98 new therapies for lung cancer are under development. More than 50 products for treating melanoma are being developed in the US, and Analysis Group reported that 91% of melanoma drugs under development globally are potentially first-in-class. Most medicines—up to 80%—being developed to treat cancer of all types have the potential to be first-in-class. At present, 771 drugs to treat cancer are under development, led by those for solid tumors (213), lung cancer (98), leukemia (87), lymphoma (78) and breast cancer (73).

Source: Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America