STAT Plus: Cancer drug approvals in the U.S. have surged over the past few decades
Reflecting an intensifying effort to conquer cancer, the portion of new oncology treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration swelled over the past decade, reaching 27% of all drug approvals compared with just 4% during the 1980s, according to a new analysis.
Between 2010 and 2018, FDA approvals for cancer therapies outstripped endorsements for antibiotics and drugs used to treat central nervous system disorders and cardiovascular ills, all of which are also major therapeutic categories. In fact, approvals for anti-infective and cardiovascular drugs fell notably, while approvals for central nervous system drugs remained stable. In all, the FDA approved 126 cancer medicines during that time.
Continue to STAT Plus to read the full story…
