title: The year's new drugs & biologics - 2008.
abstract: This annual article presents new drugs and biologics that were launched or approved for the first time during the previous year. In 2008, 31 new medicines-this figure includes both drugs and biologics for therapeutic use as well as new diagnostic agents-reached their first markets. Line extensions (new indications, new formulations and new combinations of previously marketed products) accounted for more than one-third of the new medicines launched in 2008. In addition to providing an overview of all drugs and biologics launched or approved for the first time ever in the previous year, this article will also review in further depth the first-in-class drugs launched for the first time last year, providing a better understanding of their novel mechanisms of action; an analysis of the discovery and development periods for the year's new products; and a comprehensive overview of drug repositioning as a strategy for extending the life spans of medicines. We also provide a brief glimpse at selected drugs and biologics which could reach their first markets in the foreseeable future.
authors.affiliation: ann.graul@thomsonreuters.com
authors.forename: Ann I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Graul
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Revel
authors.forename: Meritxell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barrionuevo
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cruces
authors.forename: Esmeralda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Verges
authors.forename: Becky
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lupone
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castaner
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products; D017277:Drug Approval; D015195:Drug Design; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations