30 January 2018 - The U.S. FDA approved 46 novel drugs in 2017, a 21-year high. However, it could take as long as six months for some of these groundbreaking medicines to reach patients, as pharmaceutical review committees work their way through complex clinical information to determine how, when, and why a new drug should be prescribed.

The way things stand now, the insurers and pharmacy benefits managers that set copayments, premiums, and reimbursement rates do not receive reliable data about a new treatment until it is approved by the FDA.

But it can take months to assess that information and establish appropriate prescribing standards, meet state health insurance rate filings, fulfil Medicare and Medicaid requirements, and negotiate contracts with health care purchasers.

Read The Hill article