Biologics are not only significant in terms of the number of drugs being invented, but also in the types of illnesses for which they provide therapy. Life-threatening illnesses like multiple sclerosis, anemia, hemophilia, cancer, diabetes, HIV and rheumatoid arthritis are typically treated using biologic drugs.
Actually, all approved drugs for HIV and a majority of the approved drugs for cancer are small molecules.
The rest of the Forbes column is dumb also. The proposed 12-year exclusivity period for branded biologics will not kill the economic incentive for companies to bring FoB’s to market, as the Forbes columnist alleges (see #msg-39869232).