US Patients Get New Cancer Drugs Faster than in Europe

October 2011, Vol 2, No 6

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is often criticized for delaying treatments for patients, especially those with terminal illnesses such as advanced cancer. However, a new drug-to-drug comparison (Roberts SH, et al. Health Aff [Millwood]. 2011;30:1375-1381) of the 35 new cancer drugs approved by the FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) between 2003 and 2010 shows that:

  • Median time from submission to approval of a new cancer drug is 6 months in the United States, 12 months in Europe
  • Of the 35 oncology drugs approved either by the FDA or the EMA during that period, all the drugs approved by both agencies were available in the United States before in Europe
  • The FDA approved 32 of the 35 new cancer drugs, the EMA approved 23.

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