Study: Cost of developing a new drug tops $1.1 billion

Much has been written about the high cost of drugs. Less has been publicized about how much it costs to get medications to market. Such costs topped $1.1 billion in the 2011-2012 season, according to a new study by Deloitte and Thomson Reuters. That's up $100 million from 2010-2011, based on an examination of a dozen leading firms.

Among the study's findings: The industry has seen a jump in approvals, with 41 between 2011 and 2012, up from 32 between 2010 and 2011. Researchers said the 41 approvals in the 2011-2012 season amounted to $211 billion in projected sales, down from the $309 billion in forecasted sales of the 32 items approved the year before. So while more drugs are getting to market, they are generating smaller returns.