A Report of New Drugs Research and Development in 2017—Part Ⅰ: New Drugs & Biologics (Ⅳ)

This review presents the 113 new drugs and biologics that were approved or launched for the first time globally in 2017. Fifty-two new drugs and biologics reached their first markets worldwide in 2017. Seven of the new launches were first-in-class agents, meaning the first drug with a novel mechanism of action to be approved and launched anywhere in the world. In addition, 36 notable line extensions (i.e., new indications, new combinations and new formulations of previously marketed products) were introduced in 2017. The remaining 25 products discussed in this article were approved for the first time during the year just passed, but had not yet been launched as of December 31, 2017. The United States was the most active market for new drugs, and oncology was the most active therapeutic group. Information on these new arrivals is covered in depth in part Ⅰ of our annual review of the pharma and biotech industry.