Biotechnology Until 2010, the number of New Molecular Entities (NMEs) approved by the US Food and Drug Administration had been stagnating despite higher investments in drug development by the biopharma industry, notes the latest New Drug Approval Report 2013, prepared by Switzerland-based HMB Partners. In 2011 and in 2012, however, approval numbers increased significantly, driven - among other factors - by the high number of cancer and/or orphan drugs approved. 8 August 2013