Download or read book Pharmaceutical R&D and the Evolving Market for Prescription Drugs written by David Austen and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2010-11 with total page 18 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Investment in R&D over the past several decades has produced many valuable new drug therapies that have made it possible to treat major illnesses that were not treated previously. Spending on prescription drugs became the fastest-growing category of total spending on health care in the U.S. Between 1994 and 2004, real spending on prescription drugs rose at an average annual rate of 11%, compared with 3% for hospital care and 4% for physicians¿ services. More recently, however, that growth has slowed. This report describes the current state of investment in drug R&D and the factors that influence it. It also examines how various policy options to control the growth in health care costs or to expand insur. coverage could affect R&D spending. Illus.