Unequal Access to Newly Registered Cancer Drugs Leads to Potential Loss of Life-Years in Europe

Background. Many new cancer medicines have been developed that can improve patients’ outcomes. However, access to these agents comes later in Europe than in the United States (US). The aim of this study is to assess the access in Europe to newly registered cancer drugs and to get more insight in the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancers 2020-08, Vol.12 (8), p.2313
Main Authors: Uyl-de Groot, Carin A., Heine, Renaud, Krol, Marieke, Verweij, Jaap
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antimitotic agents
Antineoplastic agents
Cancer
Drug dosages
FDA approval
Monoclonal antibodies
Mortality
Patients
Regulatory approval
Social aspects
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Summary:Background. Many new cancer medicines have been developed that can improve patients’ outcomes. However, access to these agents comes later in Europe than in the United States (US). The aim of this study is to assess the access in Europe to newly registered cancer drugs and to get more insight in the implications of these variations for patients. Methods. A retrospective database study was conducted. Analyses involved 12 cancer drugs and 28 European countries in the period 2011–2018. Time to patient access, speed of drug uptake, and the potential loss of life years due to a delay in access have been studied. Results. Marketing approval for the cancer drugs came on average 242 days later in Europe than in the US, and actual patient access varied extensively across Europe. The average time to market in Europe was 403 days (range 17–1187 days). The delay in patient access of ipilimumab and abiraterone may have led to a potential loss of more than 30,000 life years. Conclusion. It takes a long time for patients to get access to newly registered cancer drugs and there is great variation in access. The health outcomes can be substantially improved by faster processes.
ISSN:2072-6694
2072-6694
DOI:10.3390/cancers12082313