Competitiveness in follow-on drug R&D: a race or imitation?

The development of 'follow on' or 'me too' drugs - generally defined as a drug with a similar chemical structure or the same mechanism of action as a drug that is already marketed - has attracted contrasting views. Some have argued that follow-on drugs often provide useful alternative or enhanced therapeutic options for particular patients or patient subpopulations, as well as introducing price competition. Others, however, consider that the development of such drugs is duplicative and that the resources needed would be better directed elsewhere.

Monoclonal antibody successes in the clinic.

Most monoclonal antibodies in clinical trials are owned by small biotech companies. But with blockbuster-sized revenues and approval rates higher than those for small-molecule drugs, that all may be set to change.