US Has Nearly 1,000 Anti-cancer Medicines in Development

A new report highlights the efforts of biopharmaceutical companies to fight cancer.

Biopharmaceutical companies in the US are currently testing almost 1,000 oncology products, new figures show.

The latest report from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) reveals that 981 anti-cancer medicines and vaccines are being tested at present, including 121 for lung cancer, 117 for lymphoma and 111 for breast cancer.

Steady progress has been made in recent years, with the cancer death rate in the US falling by 22 per cent for men and 14 per cent for women between 1990 and 2007.

However, figures from the National Institutes for Health show that the nation spent $226.8 billion on cancer in 2007, including $103.8 billion on direct medical costs and $123 billion o