Clinical data in the first five months of 2023 is remarkably consistent to last year. BioWorld reported on 1,449 drugs in phase I-III this year, compared to 1,452 in the same time period in 2022. Numbers are down 12.13% from 1,649 in 2021, but up from 2020’s 1,419 and 2019’s 1,173.

The first five months of the year showed a slight increase in U.S. FDA approvals, though numbers are down compared to the previous four years. Worldwide approvals are down 16.67% through May, but up 5.42% compared to the previous seven years’ average.