An analysis of FDA-approved drugs for metabolic diseases

Drug Discov Today. 2015 Jun;20(6):648-51. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2015.02.002. Epub 2015 Feb 11.

Abstract

Metabolic diseases encompass a constellation of maladies including obesity and diabetes that are among the fastest growing epidemics throughout the world. An analysis of new molecular entities (NMEs) targeting metabolic diseases reveals the rate of approval for new drugs increased in the mid-1990s and now stands at approximately two per year. The increase is largely attributed to a recent emphasis on treatments for inborn errors of metabolism. In particular, biotechnology companies have focused on rare genetic disorders, which are often treated with biologic-based NMEs that target novel pathways and qualify for orphan drug status. By contrast, NME development by pharmaceutical companies tended toward conventional small molecular targeting of nongenetic disorders such as diabetes.

MeSH terms

  • Drug Approval*
  • Drug Design*
  • Humans
  • Metabolic Diseases / diagnosis
  • Metabolic Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Metabolic Diseases / genetics
  • Metabolic Diseases / metabolism
  • Metabolism, Inborn Errors / diagnosis
  • Metabolism, Inborn Errors / drug therapy*
  • Metabolism, Inborn Errors / genetics
  • Metabolism, Inborn Errors / metabolism
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Orphan Drug Production
  • Rare Diseases / diagnosis
  • Rare Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Rare Diseases / genetics
  • Rare Diseases / metabolism
  • United States
  • United States Food and Drug Administration*