Report shows 75% increase in new drug approvals compared to Q4 2020; Over 35% granted accelerated approval by the FDA
ATLANTA – [June 10, 2021] – OncoHealth, the leading digital health company focused on the physical, mental and financial complexities of cancer care, has released its Q1 2021 quarterly report on the FDA’s newly approved anti-cancer drugs and indications and noted a significant increase in approvals from the final quarter of 2020. The report includes comprehensive breakdowns of 17 oncology indications approved in January, February, and March of this year and includes the FDA’s approval details, dosage, toxicity, warnings, costs, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) comments and analysis by OncoHealth’s team of board-certified oncology pharmacists.
“Comparing the FDA’s approval activity in Q1 2021 to Q4 2020 highlights a number of interesting themes, including the significant increase in approvals quarter over quarter,” said Dr. Laura R. Bobolts, PharmD, BCOP, Senior Vice President, Pharmacy, OncoHealth. “Approved cancer indications were up from 14 to 19, a 36 percent increase, and new cancer drug approvals increased from four to seven, a 75 percent increase. Further, six oncology indications were approved under the FDA’s Accelerated Approval Program.”
The report also noted three new CAR-T cell indications that were approved in Q1 2021.
“That is the most FDA approvals for oncology cell-based gene therapy ever in a single quarter,” said Dr. Bobolts. “This includes the approval of the drug Abecma, the first-ever CAR-T cell therapy approved for relapsed, refractory multiple myeloma, along with two additional CAR-T cell indications.”
Other items of note covered in the OncoHealth’s report include:
- The number of new FDA indications for both multiple myeloma and non-small cell lung cancer tripled from Q4 2020 to Q1 2021.
- The FDA continues an approval pace for new immune checkpoint inhibitor indications of one per month with four approvals for this drug class alone approved in first quarter of 2021.
A copy of the report is available for download here. Dr. Bobolts will be discussing the report findings and analysis during a webinar on June 30 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Click here to register.
About OncoHealth
OncoHealth is a leading digital health company dedicated to helping health plans, employers, providers, patients, and life science researchers navigate the physical, mental, and financial complexities of cancer through technology enabled services and real-world data analytics. Supporting more than 7 million people in the US and Puerto Rico, OncoHealth offers digital solutions for treatment review, real-world evidence, and virtual care across all cancer types. For more information, visit www.oncohealth.us
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Media Contact:
OncoHealth
Jenn Haas
jhaas@oncohealth.us
954-330-0142 x557