Timely Access: The Waiting Game

Innovation in pharma is in itself a complex and drawn-out process – where inspiration and perspiration merge over years to produce a novel compound or molecule that will benefit human health. Yet while this process has been increasingly streamlined as science and technology progresses, drug approval processes remain a painstaking process that can significantly delay access to groundbreaking and effective therapies. Despite the central role of industry in healthcare delivery, outcomes and development, innovation in the form of lifesaving or life-prolonging medicines is now being scuppered by lengthy gaps between marketing authorization and eventual reimbursement. Dr Thomas Stark, Janssen Vice President EMEA Medical Affairs, Janssen, recently spoke at an Irish industry conference on why he believes the global medicines approval process is thwarting the speed of innovation. Contribution of innovative medicines The contribution of innovative medicines to the exponential increases in life expectancy cannot be undervalued, argued Stark. Indeed, average life expectancy increased by almost two years between 2000 and 2009, and innovative medicines have been estimated to be responsible for as much as 73 per cent of this growth in longevity. For example, increases seen in life expectancy of cancer patients over the past three decades are also thought to be largely due to new treatments and medicines. Patients diagnosed with cancer can nowadays expect to live three years longer than t...
Source: EyeForPharma - Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Source Type: news