This report shows that biopharmaceutical research companies continue to be vitally important to the economy and patient health in Colorado, despite the recession.

At a time when the state still faces significant economic challenges, biopharmaceutical research companies are conducting or have conducted more than 3,000 clinical trials of new medicines in collaboration with the state’s clinical research centers, university medical schools and hospitals. Of the more than 3,000 clinical trials, 1,427 target or have targeted the nation’s six most debilitating chronic diseases—asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, mental illnesses and stroke.

“The University of Colorado (CU) plays a major role in clinical research. CU is one of a handful of universities that has created four different drugs that have been approved for marketing. CU also has created 18 different drugs currently undergoing clinical trials. Additionally, six CU created drugs have been approved for clinical trials, and 44 drugs are in various stages of pre-clinical trials. CU clinicians are also active in conducting clinical trials. For example, for the 2 month period between January 5, 2012 and March 5, 2012, CU was seeking volunteers for 50 different and newly initiated clinical trials. These clinical related activities address a wide array of human maladies and provide significant economic activity for the State of Colorado.” --David N. Allen, Ph.D. University of Colorado Associate Vice President for Technology Transfer