With 37 drugs approved, fiscal year 2009 was the only year to exceed this year, the FDA said. FDA officials said the increase was not a result of an increase in applications but increased innovation. Highlights from the past year include the first new lupus drug in 50 years, two drugs for Hepatitis C and seven new cancer drugs.
The high-point of prescription drug approvals came in 1996 with 53 drugs approved. In the past five years, drug approvals have averaged 21 per year.
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