New Cancer Drugs Often Bestow Little Benefit Regarding Survival or Wellbeing? (NHS Choices / BMJ)

Summary

A quotation from the authors’ abstract may say it all:

“This systematic evaluation of oncology approvals by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2009-13 shows that most drugs entered the market without evidence of benefit on survival or quality of life. At a minimum of 3.3 years after market entry, there was still no conclusive evidence that these drugs either extended or improved life for most cancer indications. When there were survival gains over existing treatment options or placebo, they were often marginal”.

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Reference

Many new cancer drugs show ‘no clear benefit’, argues review. London: NHS Choices; Behind the Headlines, October 5^th 2017.

This relates to:

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Reference

Davis, C. Naci, H. [and] Gurpinar, E. [et al] (2017). Availability of evidence of benefits on overall survival and quality of life of cancer drugs approved by European Medicines Agency: retrospective cohort study of drug approvals 2009-13. BMJ. October 4^th 2017; 359: j4530.

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Reference

Gallagher, J. (2016). Skin cancer: Half of people surviving advanced melanoma. London: BBC Health News, September 28^th 2019.