An analysis of FDA-approved drugs for neurological disorders

•A low rate of approvals is observed with bursts in activity in the 1950s and 1990s.•Ion-channel- and GPCR-based targets consistently dominate the field.•The mechanistic basis for many neuroscience NMEs remains unclear (higher than any other field analyzed).

Neuroscience remains a great challenge and opportunity in terms of new drug discovery and development. An assessment of FDA-approved new molecular entities (NMEs) reveals a low steady rate of new FDA approvals, which is interrupted by two bursts in activity, first in the 1950s and then in the 1990s. These trends are reflected in the approvals for NMEs targeting multiple indications in this field, including seizure, Parkinson's disease and neuromuscular disorders. The majority of drugs target ion channels or G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) but the mechanistic basis for many NMEs remains unclear or controversial. These trends could suggest future opportunities for success in a crucial field with considerable unmet needs.