In 2015, spending on cancer medicines reached $107 billion, an 11.5% increase in constant dollars. Globally, over 500 companies are focusing on oncology development, with 511 companies pursuing a Late Phase active pipeline and 379 firms with drugs in Phase II development. Of the 511 companies, oncology drug development made up 49% of collective R&D. On average, the waiting period from patent filing to federal approval for oncology drugs was 9.5 years in 2015, a 7.3% decrease from 2013. Between 2010 and 2014, 82% of all oncology new active substances were targeted therapies (i.e., small molecule protein kinase inhibitors, biologic monoclonal antibodies), which made up 89% of the Late Phase pipeline. Costs of oncology medicines increased 72% from 2010 to $15.9 billion in 2015. Globally, the market for cancer drugs is expected to grow 7.5%–10.5% to over $150 billion by 2020. Immunotherapy, which is among the fastest growing segments of cancer R&D, is expected to represent a significant portion of this pipeline.

Source: IMS Health