Clinical Trials in Asia.

Drug companies seek to reduce costs by conducting clinical drug trials in Asia.

"Asia is becoming the new testing ground for companies looking for the next blockbuster drug, a development that will shorten the time it takes for pharmaceutical products to enter the U.S. market in the coming years," according to drug industry insiders. Drugmakers can conduct "clinical trials abroad...to keep research costs low."

In 1997, there were 956 "drug companies conducting clinical trials worldwide." By 2006, that number was almost 1,800," according to data from the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development. While 86 percent of clinical trials were done in the U.S. a decade ago, currently, that number is down to 70 percent.

In the meantime, "the FDA is taking steps to increase its drug-approval rate," and the agency is expected to approve 112 drugs this year, up from 94 in 2005.