Five new drugs marketed within the last year that are used for medical problems often experienced by older people have been selected for consideration in this review. The uses and most important properties of these agents are discussed, and a rating for each new drug is determined using the New Drug Comparison Rating (NDCR) system developed by the author (DAH). Advantages, disadvantages, and other important information regarding each new drug are identified and used as the basis for determining the rating. The drugs considered include new agents indicated for the treatment of patients with hypercholesterolemia, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, schizophrenia, and age-related macular degeneration.