ESMO Congress 2024 | OncologyPRO

Abstract 1591P

Background

Novel therapies are transforming cancer care. We have previously shown the substantial rise in the number of new oncology treatments approved in the UK over the past decades. However, UK drug approval has changed substantially following Brexit and faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unknown how these factors have affected drug approvals and costs.

Methods

The UK core prescribing book is the British National Formulary (BNF) listing all newly approved drugs. We analysed new therapy additions over a 5-year period, collecting data on classification, indication and median treatment duration. To appreciate costs, we calculated the price per treatment and equated this to the UK GDP per capita.

Results

Between 2020-24, 45 new cancer therapies were approved in the UK, comparing favourably with the previous 5-years, when 46 therapies were approved. The past 10-years (2015-24) has seen 91 new cancer therapies approved; a 78.4% increase compared to the previous 10-years (2005-2014). The past 5-years has witnessed continued transition away from cytotoxic chemotherapy (CC) to targeted therapies. In 2005-09 a third of new therapies were CC drugs, compared to only 6.7% in 2020-24. The majority of new approvals over the last 5-years were kinase inhibitors, accounting for 40% (N=18), followed closely by monoclonal antibodies at 35.6% (N=16). The average median duration of treatment is 438 days, increasing substantially from 318 days in 2015-19 and 263 days in 2010-14. The average monthly treatment cost between 2020-24 is £8286.50, increasing from £5937.43 in 2015-19 and £4090.52 in 2010-14. This equates to a 102.6% growth over 15 years. The average total treatment cost in 2020-24 is £119,325.54, almost double compared to 2015-19 (£62,343). This is equivalent to 361.6% of the UK GDP per capita.

Conclusions

Despite Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK has maintained a consistent number of new oncology approvals. A transition away from CC towards targeted therapies is fuelling precision oncology. However, as the median duration of treatment and average cost of new therapies continues to rise they pose ongoing significant challenges.