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In a year in which regulators and drug companies gained familiarity with risk management strategies, the number of new drug approvals was similar to that in 2008.
With five novel oral therapies in late-stage development, there could soon be a wide range of treatment options for relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis, but better biomarkers are needed to more effectively address the challenge of treating progressive forms of the disease.
Phase III trial results for three anti-obesity therapies suggest that they meet at least some of the efficacy benchmarks for regulatory approval, although questions remain about the value of the benefits offered.