Rx Horizon: What's next with drugs?
Drugs have extended lives, cured once-untreatable diseases and improved the quality of life in countless ways. In the U.S. drug pipeline, the top 50 pharmaceutical companies are waiting Federal Drug Administration approval on 80 to 100 new drugs.

What lies ahead?

• Cholesterol-lowering medications. Studies found about 36 million Americans could use medication to clear away low-density lipoproteins, known as bad cholesterol. New drugs promise to be more efficient and less expensive.

• Antiseizure drugs. New anticonvulsants for use in treating typically non-seizure-related conditions such as neuropathic pain, migraine headache and certain psychiatric disorders. Expected to be better tolerated by the cardiovascular system, they should arrive in mid-2006.

• Antiplatelet drugs. A new oral anticoagulant is expected in 2006, promising to more efficiently fight plaque buildup in coronary arteries. These are expected to help prevent heart attacks and strokes if used properly.

• Vaccines. U.S. and Swiss pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are experimenting with cell culture technology to streamline and increase production of vaccines to combat flu and other pandemic diseases.

• Antidepressants. New, improved extended-release prescriptive medications for treating post-traumatic stress disorders and general anxiety disorders promise to be more effective in beating the blues with “significantly less severe” side effects.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. New editions of pain relievers to better ease tendonitis and joint inflammation.

• Respiratory drugs. New drugs to combat allergic asthma also show potential for treating life-threatening peanut allergies.

• Proton pump inhibitors. Promises better short-term management of heartburn discomfort. But patients with mild-to-moderate peptic disorders may prefer the convenience and lower costs of over-the-counter medications.

• Diabetes drugs. Diabetes currently affects about 18.2 million Americans. Several new injectable medications will target better management of a diabetic’s blood sugar and blood pressure.

About $100 billion worth of name-brand drugs will lose patent exclusivity over the next five years. Blockbuster cholesterol-reducing drugs losing patents in 2006 are Zocor from Merck and Pravachol from Bristol-Myers. Combined they accounted for almost $8 billion in 2005 sales.

Other drugs facing cost-saving generic competition in 2006 include Ambien, Lamisil and Zoloft.

Is there a pill for everything?

Not quite. But researchers are making medical headway on controlling some of the most vexing health issues. Scientists are building better, more effective drugs for fighting cancer, diabetes, allergies, chronic back pain and even the common cold.

Stay tuned. Relief for whatever ails you may be on the horizon.