Government drug discoveries account for 9% to 21% of New Drugs

Some one asked me to research an interesting question. What percent of drugs originated at government labs ?

The answer, depending on how you measure, is between 9-21%. Here is an article in the New England Journal of Medicine discussing the success of government funded drug research. The report uses a broader definition of public sector research that includes universities and non-profit hospitals. Here.

Here is a summary of the article in the LA Times. Here.

In related news, the NIH announced a new center to work more closely with drug companies to develop new compounds. The NY Times has a piece here.

Here is the web site of the organization, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. NCATS is Here.

When you look at the success of the US drug industry, you have to acknowledge that the money invested by the government in basic research was well spent.