W-11: Faster Approvals? Trends in the Use of FDA’s Expedited Approval Programs for Oncology Medications

Poster Presenter

Robin Whitsell

President
Whitsell Innovations, Inc.
United States

Objectives

This study assessed how BTD and other FDA designations have played a role in the approval of oncology drug marketing applications and evaluated trends in the use of these regulatory pathways.

Method

With the importance of speed-to-market and addressing unmet needs, pharmaceutical companies have sought accelerated approvals through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Introduced with the FDA Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA) of 2012, Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) has become an important mechanism for approval of serious and life-threatening conditions that do not have adequate therapies. Notably, these pathways have been ill-understood by both pharmaceutical companies and health care providers. We analyzed publicly available data on novel oncology drug approvals by the FDA from 2012-2016, including the 4 expedited programs for serious conditions (BTD, Accelerated Approval, Fast Track, and Priority Review).

Results

Of the 43 novel oncology drugs approved by the FDA between 2012-2016, 42 used at least 1 of the expedited approval programs, including 65% that used =2 programs and 35% that used =3 programs. The BTD has been used by 15 of the 43 (35%) approved novel oncology drugs since 2012. The use of the BTD, Accelerated Approval pathway, and Priority Review designation among approved oncology drugs has generally increased each year from 2012-2016, while the use of the Fast Track designation has decreased over the same time period.

Conclusion

Companies seeking oncology approvals often use more than one expediting strategy. Alone or in combinations, the BTD, Accelerated Approval, and Priority Review have been shown to play an increasingly important role in oncology drug development. Data collected between 2012-2016 suggest that use of BTD is growing more common, while use of the Fast Track designation has decreased among approved oncology drugs. Additional expedited approval programs have remained steady or increased since the FDA introduced BTD. Based on these observations, we anticipate use of the BTD, Accelerated Approval, and Priority Review designation will grow in future oncology drug applications.