According to CMR International’s annual yearbook for 2009, pharmaceutical company spending on R&D declined 0.3%, with R&D as a percentage of sales falling to 15%. Compared to the 2004–2006 period, the number of drugs abandoned during Phase III clinical trials nearly doubled in 2007–2009 to 40. For every 12 drugs in preclinical research, two progressed to Phase III and only one was approved. In addition, line extensions made up a greater portion of late-stage development, accounting for more than half of the drugs that advanced beyond mid-stage Phase III trials. As for types of therapies, 18% of R&D investments were for cancer drugs, 15% were for cardiovascular drugs and 12% were for drugs for diseases affecting the central nervous system.

Source: Financial Times