Most Innovative Cancer Drugs Are Not Prioritised

In an overview of all drugs licenced through the European Medicines Agency (EMA) from 2000 to the end of 2016, the research team from The Institute of Cancer Research (London) found that increasing numbers of drugs are being authorised. The average number of drugs subject to the EMA licencing increased from a median of six per year for 2000–2008, to 13.5 per year for 2009–2016. Between 2000 and 2016, there were 64 drug authorisations for haematological, 15 for breast, and 12 for skin cancer, but none for oesophageal, brain, bladder or uterine cancer.