FDA approves cancer drugs quickly, report says (Morning Read)

A new study published in Health Affairs (and conducted by people at Friends of Cancer Research) says that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is thought to be slow in approving new cancer drugs, is actually faster at it than the FDA's European counterpart. It takes an average of six months for a new oncology drug to be approved in the U.S., the study says, whereas in Europe it takes nearly a year on average. Between 2003 and 2010, the FDA also approved several drugs that didn't reach in Europe, the report says.

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Researchers say FDA offers quick turnaround on cancer drugs. A new study published in Health Affairs (and conducted by people at Friends of Cancer Research) says that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is thought to be slow in approving new cancer drugs, is actually faster at it than the FDA’s European counterpart. It takes an average of six months for a new oncology drug to be approved in the U.S., the study says, whereas in Europe it takes nearly a year on average. Between 2003 and 2010, the FDA also approved several drugs that didn’t reach in Europe, the report says.

MedPAC wants to cut costs on diagnostic testing. In an attempt to drive down medical spending, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission is calling on Congress to establish a program under which physicians who order a high volume of diagnostic imaging services must receive authorization from Medicare before proceeding with the tests.

FDA approves Bristol-Myers drug Nulojix. With the FDA approval of Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.’s kidney transplant drug Nulojix on Wednesday, the pharma company’s rheumatoid arthritis drug, Orencia, is likely to win approval despite earlier delays, according to a Citi Investment Research analyst.

No smoking…or smokers. A St. Louis-based chain of hospitals is the latest to enact a tobacco-free hiring policy which automatically eliminates job candidates who admit to being smokers. More than half of the states have laws prohibiting discrimination of smokers in the hiring process, but in some of those states courts have upheld the bans when they were challenged, according to the Post Dispatch.

Rivalries aside. Drugmakers are increasingly setting aside their competitive drives in favor of collaboration with other companies to develop affordable drugs that will not only be successful in today’s market but will work in tandem with other drugs.

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