US Drug Approvals in 2011 Reach 2010 Total

The number of drug approvals is set to increase further, with more than a dozen drug candidates still scheduled for review before the end of the year.

According to a report compiled by Burrill & Co., a life sciences financial services firm, the number of new drug approvals in the US in 2011 has reached 2010 levels by July.

The US FDA's approval of AstraZeneca's Brilinta in July increased the number of new drugs to 21, equal to the total number of new drugs it approved in 2010.

Drugs approved in the US this year include Vertex Pharmaceutical's Incivek, for hepatitis C, and Human Genome Sciences' Benlysta, the first new treatment for lupus to emerge in half a century.

The number of drug approvals is set to increase further, with more than a dozen drug candidates still scheduled for review before the en