EFPIA takes issue with BMJ article on efficacy of cancer medicines

6 October 2017

At present, two out of three people diagnosed with cancer survive at least five years. Between 1991 and 2011 deaths from cancer have fallen by 21% across the EU5 (UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy).

This progress has been driven by rapidly advancing science, better diagnostics and innovative therapies. The impact for patients has been longer survival and better quality of life, according to the trade group European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA).

Against this backdrop, the EFPIA notes the recent publication in the BMJ of a study on overall survival and quality of life of cancer drugs approved by the European Medicines Agency: retrospective cohort study of drug approvals 2009-13. The study questioned the clinical benefit of a number of new cancer medicines.

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free. A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Try before you buy

Free

7 day trial access

Take a Free Trial

All the news that moves the needle in pharma and biotech
Exclusive features, podcasts, interviews, data analyses and commentary from our global network of life sciences reporters.
Receive The Pharma Letter daily news bulletin, free forever.

Become a subscriber

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now

Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription

The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK