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HINJ Reports More Than a Third of FDA-Approved Drugs Came from New Jersey in 2002

New Brunswick, NJ, February 10, 2003 — New Jersey-based pharmaceutical companies developed more than a third of all the new medicines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002, according to statistics compiled by the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ).  Of the 17 new drugs, 7 came from the Garden State.

New Jersey companies were also responsible for the development of 2 of the 8 newly-approved biologics.  Upholding a trend in innovation, New Jersey companies surpassed all other states in drug approvals.  California was second with 4 approvals.

New Jersey-based companies developed several “first” therapies (medicines that are the first in a new class of drugs) for diseases, and other significant advances in therapies.  These include: Inspra ™ and Zetia ™ . Inspra ™ is the first agent designed to selectively block aldosterone for the treatment of high blood pressure.  Zetia ™, the first in a class of agents that inhibits the intestinal absorption of cholesterol, is the first breakthrough to treat cholesterol since statins were introduced 15 years ago.

“New Jersey’s pharmaceutical industry allocates more dollars to research and development than any other industry in the state,” said Bob Franks, president of the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey.  “The fact that our research-based companies developed a third of all new medicines demonstrates why investment in R&D is so critical.  As a result of these new drugs, millions of Americans — and people around the world — will benefit.”

The complete list of the 9 drugs and biologics from New Jersey companies approved by the FDA is as follows:

  • Abilify ™ (aripiprazole), from Bristol-Myers Squibb, a new antipsychotic medication indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia;
  • Benicar ™ (olmesartan), from Sankyo Pharma, the latest entry in a special class of high blood pressure medications;
  • Inspra ™ (eplerenone) from Pharmacia, the first agent designed to selectively block aldosterone, for the treatment of high blood pressure. Approximately 50 million, or one in four, adult Americans, have high blood pressure;
  • Relpax ® (eletriptan hydrobromide) from Pfizer, for the treatment of migraines;
  • Vfend ® (voriconazole) from Pfizer for the treatment of deadly fungal infections;
  • Zelnorm ™ (tegaserod maleate) from Novartis. This drug is the first to receive FDA-approval for short-term treatment of women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) whose primary bowel symptom is constipation.
  • Zetia ™ (ezetimibe) from Merck/Schering Plough, for cholesterol reduction. This is the first in a new class of drugs to treat cholesterol since statins were introduced 15 years ago;
  • Daptacel (DtaP) from Aventis Pasteur, is a diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine adsorbed (DTaP), approved for routine immunization in infants and children six weeks through six years of age;
  • Pegasys (pegintergeron alfa-2) from Roche for the treatment of adults with chronic hepatitis C virus infection who have compensated liver disease and have not been previously treated with interferon alpha.

In addition, the pipeline for new medicines remains strong.  According to the FDA, the number of potential medicines entering clinical trials was 15 percent higher in 2001 (the most recent year on record) than five years ago.

The HealthCare Institute of New Jersey promotes public awareness of the state’s research-based pharmaceutical and medical technology industry.  The Institute includes 21 worldwide pharmaceutical and medical technology leaders headquartered in New Jersey.