Time intervals between U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) new cancer therapy approvals.

Abstract

Background: Novel therapies are transforming cancer care. Regulatory review and approval are essential to deliver safe and efficacious innovations to patients. Studies prior to 2010 describe quicker approval decisions for new oncology drug registrations with the FDA compared to the EMA (median delay 238 days). Both regulatory agencies have subsequently improved procedures to expedite approval times. We compared regulatory market authorisation dates at the FDA and EMA for new oncology therapies from 2010-2020. Methods: New oncology therapeutic approvals between 2010-2020 were identified from the FDA and EMA regulatory databases. We analysed only initial approvals (not supplementary licenses) for active anti-cancer therapies (excluding biosimilars and supportive drugs). The delay in regulatory approval between the FDA and EMA was calculated in calendar days. We further analysed therapies by therapeutic class, evaluating for significant differences. Results: We identified 108 new therapy registrations during the study period. 104 (96.3%) therapies were approved by the FDA and 90 (83.3%) had EMA market authorisation. 4 (3.7%) drugs were not FDA registered, including 3 unsuccessful applications and 1 which sought licensing in a different indication. 18 (16.5%) drugs were not EMA registered, including 9 (8.8%) which did not pursue EMA licensing, 3 (2.9%) withdrawn licensing applications, 3 (2.9%) sought licensing in different tumour group/indication, 1 (0.9%) rejected application and 2 (1.9%) with applications under review at submission date. Of the 86 drugs approved by both agencies, 80 were approved first by the FDA and 6 by the EMA. The median delay in approval between the FDA and EMA was 227 days (IQR:124-354 days). Table shows approvals by therapeutic class. The shortest median time difference for approval was for monoclonal antibodies (171 days) with the longest for kinase inhibitors (281 days). Conclusions: This study shows more new oncology therapies are approved by the FDA than the EMA. Patients in the US typically have access to approved therapies earlier than in Europe. From 2010 to 2020 the median delay between FDA and EMA approval was 227 days, falling by 11 days compared to 2003-10, [non-statistically significant]. Such lengthy delays could exceed the life expectancy of many patients with advanced cancer. Innovations for accelerated approval at both the FDA (e.g. Project Orbis) and EMA (e.g., PRIME) have potential to lead to faster approval.