The Scientific division of business information provider Thomson Reuters, US, has announced the availability of the newly published CMR International 2008 Pharmaceutical R&D Factbook. The publication is projected as a key reference and business planning tool for decision makers in pharmaceutical R&D, corporate finance, business strategy, marketing planning and corporate communications. This year's Factbook is seen to offer a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of emerging trends in worldwide pharmaceutical R&D. It has been considerably enhanced with data sourced from other Thomson Reuters businesses providing insight into areas such as generic drugs and patents.
CMR International's research shows that the output of new molecular entities (NMEs) fell to a new 20-year low despite continued year-on-year increases in R&D expenditure. The proportion of sales derived from products first launched within the last five years dropped to below 10 percent, leaving pharmaceutical companies open to the threat of patent expiry. As R&D companies are attempting to reverse the decline in the pharma industry's productivity, it is clear that competition from the generics sector is rapidly increasing. In particular, generics manufacturers in India are having an increased impact.
The information found in the Factbook is based on primary sources covering major pharmaceutical companies that account for about 80 percent of the industry's global R&D expenditure. The resource is available in hard copy, as well as in single-user and enterprise-wide electronic format supplied on CD-ROM.
