BIO report shows lagging innovation for pain, addiction

The Biotechnology Innovation Organization called attention to lower venture funding and fewer clinical-stage novel compounds within pain and addiction indications in its second report in a series on funding and R&D for highly prevalent chronic diseases.

"Lower investment and pipeline breadth in pain and addiction relative to other disease areas with high societal health burdens demonstrates the need for incentivizing more research and clinical development," BIO said.

Venture capital for U.S. companies with lead clinical pain programs comprise only 3.6% of drug development venture financing and is "nearly non-existent" for addiction drug R&D, despite U.S. healthcare costs exceeding $225 billion for each indication, according to the report.

BIO said FDA has only approved two novel chemical entities to treat pain in the past 10 years. According to the organization, the probability of a Phase I pain candidate eventually receiving FDA approval is 2%, compared with 10% for all indications.

Last November, BIO set out priorities for addressing prescription opioid abuse and addiction. At the time, the organization called for changes to optimize the review process for pain and addiction therapies, including recommendations to increase leadership engagement, expertise and resources at FDA. BIO also recommended spurring drug development through expedited approval pathways and other incentives for new treatments (see BioCentury, Nov. 17, 2017).