Between 1980 and 2018, novel cancer drug approvals as a percentage share of all novel FDA drug approvals increased from 4.5% to 26.7%.

Between 1980 and 2018, novel cancer drug approvals as a percentage share of all novel FDA drug approvals increased from 4.5% to 26.7% [Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, Impact Report 2019;21(5):1–4]. Over that period, cancer drugs transitioned from accounting for the smallest share of the four major therapeutic categories—defined as those that received the most approvals—to making up the largest share. The increase, says Joseph DiMasi, PhD, of the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development in Boston, MA, who authored the report, likely reflects a convergence of factors: scientific advances, particularly in the area of targeted therapies; substantial markets created by high demand; and the FDA facilitating approvals with specialized programs such as accelerated approvals and breakthrough designations.
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Between 1980 and 2018, novel cancer drug approvals as a percentage share of all novel FDA drug approvals increased from 4.5% to 26.7% [Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, Impact Report 2019;21(5):1–4]. Over that period, cancer drugs transitioned from accounting for the smallest share of the four major therapeutic categories—defined as those that received the most approvals—to making up the largest share. The increase, says Joseph DiMasi, PhD, of the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development in Boston, MA, who authored the report, likely reflects a convergence of factors: scientific advances, particularly in the area of targeted therapies; substantial markets created by high demand; and the FDA facilitating approvals with specialized programs such as accelerated approvals and breakthrough designations.

Between 1980 and 2018, novel cancer drug approvals as a percentage share of all novel FDA drug approvals increased from 4.5% to 26.7% [Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, Impact Report 2019;21(5):1–4]. Over that period, cancer drugs transitioned from accounting for the smallest share of the four major therapeutic categories—defined as those that received the most approvals—to making up the largest share. The increase, says Joseph DiMasi, PhD, of the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development in Boston, MA, who authored the report, likely reflects a convergence of factors: scientific advances, particularly in the area of targeted therapies; substantial markets created by high demand; and the FDA facilitating approvals with specialized programs such as accelerated approvals and breakthrough designations.
View largeDownload slide

Between 1980 and 2018, novel cancer drug approvals as a percentage share of all novel FDA drug approvals increased from 4.5% to 26.7% [Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, Impact Report 2019;21(5):1–4]. Over that period, cancer drugs transitioned from accounting for the smallest share of the four major therapeutic categories—defined as those that received the most approvals—to making up the largest share. The increase, says Joseph DiMasi, PhD, of the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development in Boston, MA, who authored the report, likely reflects a convergence of factors: scientific advances, particularly in the area of targeted therapies; substantial markets created by high demand; and the FDA facilitating approvals with specialized programs such as accelerated approvals and breakthrough designations.

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©2019 American Association for Cancer Research.
2019
American Association for Cancer Research.