Despite major challenges and demands created by the coronavirus pandemic, FDA maintained a steady pace in 2021 in approving important new therapies for market, including new vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. Last year saw the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) approve 50 new molecular entities (NMEs), many benefitting from priority and accelerated review timelines. In addition, the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) approved several vaccines and cellular products to further expand the new medicines list.
The CDER total is slightly less than the 53 novel drugs brought to market in 2020 and the 2018 record total of 59 innovative therapies. As in recent years, a majority of the new products received orphan drug status, and 15 had indications to treat cancer.
