18 September 2019 - We must raise the bar to ensure real benefits for patients

Cancer drugs are at the coalface of current tensions between commercial and public health interests in medicine because of high prices and expedited market approvals. The aim of faster approvals is to get potentially life saving care to patients as soon as possible, especially those with rare cancers or life threatening diseases whose conditions do not respond to existing treatments. 

However, faster approval comes at a high cost. Several studies have shown that the evidence of patient benefit that underpins approval is limited and uncertain.

Read BMJ Editorial