A Decade of Marketing Authorization Applications of Anticancer Drugs in the European Union: An Analysis of Procedural Timelines

Abstract

Abstract Background Cancer is a serious global health problem and a major cause of death. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has established several regulatory initiatives to expedite the development and authorization of drugs to ensure timely access of patients. In this study, we analyzed the procedural timelines of marketing authorization applications for anticancer drugs in the EU, with a specific focus to special regulatory programs, scientific advice and company size. Methods Anticancer drugs that received an opinion from the EMA between January 2010 and December 2019 were included in the study. Public assessment reports were used to obtain publicly available information of the drugs. Results We identified 96 applications for new anticancer drugs. 34 applications were granted access to at least one expedited program offered by the EMA. Total procedure time was reduced from average 370 to 200–215 days when accelerated assessment was granted. Granting of a conditional marketing authorization or an orphan designation, as well as having scientific advice, only mildly affected total procedure time. Average total procedure time of small companies was much longer compared with medium-sized and large companies (483 versus 356 days), which was caused by an increased clock stop time. Conclusion Total procedure time for anticancer is mainly affected by the granting of accelerated assessment, which reduced the total procedure time, and company size, where total procedure time is much longer for small companies. Small companies are advised to have, and especially adhere to scientific advice to reduce procedure time and increase the chance of success.