In 1900 the three main causes of death in the US were pneumonia, tuberculosis, and diarrhea. In 2000, the odds of dying from any one of these was 1 in 25 but only pneumonia remains in the list of the top 10 causes of death today. This can be attributed to the rise of better sanitation and vaccination techniques but the development of drugs also had a major role.

Pharmaceuticals began primarily with apothecary shops in the 19th century but a few preliminary drugs were discovered such as epinephrine, nor epinephrine, and barbiturates. In the post WWII period, several other antibiotics were produced and vaccines made for measles, rubella and mumps. Antihypertensive drugs and oral contraceptives were made as well. The Kefauver-Harris Amendment was passed in 1962 which enhanced drug regulation and forces manufacturers to prove that it was effective before a new drug went on market after thalidomide was shown to cause widespread birth defects in Europe. In the late 20th century statins such as simvastatin became a major development as they lowered cholesterol levels and reduced heart disease.

Overall the cost of the drug industry is extremely high. Industry wide research and investment cost $65.3 billion in 2009. It was also estimated that in 2003,  the cost for discovering, developing and launching a new drug over a 5 year period is $1.3 billion. However by 2010, development costs range from $4 billion to $11 billion per drug.

–Julia Ng