Sadly most of that money is spent on marketing [1] and most new drugs are just minor tweaks to existing compounds [2], much safer bets than brand new approaches.<p>[1]  <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.washingtonpost.com&#x2F;news&#x2F;wonk&#x2F;wp&#x2F;2015&#x2F;02&#x2F;11&#x2F;big-pharmaceutical-companies-are-spending-far-more-on-marketing-than-research&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.washingtonpost.com&#x2F;news&#x2F;wonk&#x2F;wp&#x2F;2015&#x2F;02&#x2F;11&#x2F;big-p...</a><p>[2] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;healthaffairs.org&#x2F;blog&#x2F;2015&#x2F;07&#x2F;06&#x2F;serious-risks-and-few-new-benefits-from-fda-approved-drugs&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;healthaffairs.org&#x2F;blog&#x2F;2015&#x2F;07&#x2F;06&#x2F;serious-risks-and-f...</a>