Pharmaceutical industry researchers are working on a total of 62 new medicines to treat breast cancer—a development that industry leaders say should give fresh hope to the millions of women at risk for the disease in the United States. The promising new breast cancer treatments are among more than 400 new medicines under development to treat diseases that affect American women, according to the results of a study conducted by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

In addition to the breast cancer treatments in the research and development pipeline, the PhRMA survey identified 72 pharmaceuticals in development for arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders; 58 for obstetric/gynecologic conditions; 62 for diabetes; and 47 for autoimmune diseases—all conditions that disproportionately afflict women. "It is heartening to know that there are so many medicines being developed to treat women—our grandmothers, mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters," said Billy Tauzin, president and chief executive officer of PhRMA.

Mr. Rankin is a freelance medical writer.