How are new medicines extending life expectancy?

New medicines play a significant role in the life expectancy gains made in the U.S. and around the world. In many cases new medicines and vaccines help prevent disease, in addition to those that may cure or alleviate previously fatal or debilitating conditions.

Death rate falls for HIV/AIDS with advent of new medicines
New medicines have made a major contribution to the decline in the death rate from HIV/AIDS in the U.S. over the last 10 years. Following the approval of the highly active antiretroviral treatments (HAART) in 1995, deaths from HIV/AIDS in the United States fell dramatically – by more than 70 percent. Remarkably, the death rate continues to fall, and new medicines continue to become available. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that between 2006 and 2007 the HIV/AIDS death rate fell 10 percent, which was the largest single-year decline since 1998.

New cancer drugs increase survival
Since 1980, life expectancy for cancer patients has increased about three years, and 83 percent of those gains are attributable to new treatments, including medicines. Medicines specifically account for 50 to 60 percent of increases in survival rates since 1975.

Use of medicines prevents strokes
A study sponsored by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research concluded that increased use of a blood-thinning drug would prevent 40,000 strokes a year, saving $600 million annually.