Charts

The charts below provide facts and figures on the far-reaching impact of biopharmaceutical innovation—on patients’ lives, on our economy, and across the health care system. Data and information were drawn from a wide range of sources, including government agency reports, peer-reviewed journals, and other research efforts. 

Patient Impact

Find facts and figures showing how medicines are enabling us to live longer, healthier lives and improving outcomes in heart disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and rare diseases.  

Economic Impact

Discover how appropriate use of medicines is strengthening the economy through increased worker productivity and helping to control health care spending by preventing and managing diseases.

Health Care System: Realities and Challenges

See how current health care and economic challenges are affecting our health and well-being and the economic stability of our nation. 

Research & Development

Find data and information on biopharmaceutical companies’ steady investment in research, even in the face of the increasing cost and complexity of clinical trials and other challenges in drug development.

Value of Medicines, Facts and Figures 2006

Check out a full set of charts on the value of medicines, from the economic effects for employers to the quality of life benefits for patients. This deck was produced in 2006 to reflect the body of recent research that shows medicines have a far-reaching positive effect on patients and society.  For more recent charts see the above sections.

Patient Impact

• U.S. Life Expectancy Has Climbed Rapidly
• Heart Failure Rates and Heart Attack Deaths Are Declining
• Increased Use of Medicines Reduces Risk of Death After Stroke & Heart Attack
• Cancer Death Rates Down
• Cancer Survival Increasing
• Gains in Cancer Treatment Drive Improvement in Survival Rates
• Medicines Prevent Breast Cancer Recurrence
• Decline in HIV/AIDS Death Rates
• Medicine Approvals for Rare Diseases
• Return on Investment from Improved Medication Adherence: Diabetes
• Return on Investment from Improved Medication Adherence: High Cholesterol
• Delayed Nursing Home Placement for Alzheimer's Patients
• Selected Advances in the 20th Century
• Selected Advances Since 2000 

back to top

Economic Impact

• Avoidable Treatment Costs and Productivity Losses, 2023
• Potential Medicare Savings from Prevention for Seniors
• Higher Worker Productivity from Improved Adherence to Medicines
• New Treatments Could Ease the Burden of Alzheimer's Disease 
• Need for New Treatments: Parkinson's Disease
• The High Cost of Undertreatment

back to top

Health Care System: Realities and Challenges

• Americans with Chronic Conditions, 2004
• Rates of Chronic Disease Projected to Rise
• Obesity Rates Are Increasing Dramatically
• Few Americans Receiving Recommended Care
• Common Chronic Diseases Are Often Untreated or Not Well Controlled
• Failure to Take Medicines As Prescribed Is Common
• Medicines Account for a Small Share of Health Spending Growth
• Health Care Spending Disproportionate for Patients with Chronic Conditions
• Health Spending Escalates for Patients with More Chronic Conditions

back to top

Research & Development

• Federal and Industry Roles in Research and Development
• Medical Research in the U.S. Outpaces the Rest of the World
• Drug Development Takes Longer Than It Did in the Past
• Increasing Cost of Developing a New Drug
• Increasing Complexity of Clinical Trials
• Probability of Success for Investigational Drugs Is Small
• Cumulative Approvals for Medicines: 1990-2011
• Even After Approval, Few Medicines Are a Commercial Success
• Importance of Post-Approval R&D 

back to top

Biopharmaceuticals in Perspective, Facts and Figures 2012 

View PDF

Permission to reproduce is granted if proper credit is given.
Suggested Citation: Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Biopharmaceuticals in Perspective, Facts and Figures 2012, (Washington, DC: PhRMA, March 2012).