What does it cost to develop a new drug?

Abstract

Current annual R & D expenditure by the pharmaceutical industry worldwide is estimated at $US30 billion, a five-fold increase since 1981. This figure is expected to increase even further over the next decade. In order to address this problem, it is necessary to understand the causal factors, an issue discussed at a Management Forum conference, Cost Containment Initiatives, held in London, UK, last month.