PhRMA shows record number of heart disease, stroke meds in the pipeline

WASHINGTON A new report from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America shows a record number of heart disease and stroke medications in the development pipeline, PhRMA said Thursday.

More than 300 new medicines for treating two of the top killers in the country are in clinical trials or awaiting approval by the Food and Drug Administration, compared to 146 in 2005.

"The medicines now in the research pipeline will add to the substantial progress made by America's pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies in developing new and more effective treatments for these diseases," PhRMA president and CEO Billy Tauzin stated. "This strong commitment to research is a product of the determination of the researchers and scientists working to develop new medicines that enable patients to live longer, healthier and more productive lives."