Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39433409›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2024

New cancer medicines in Europe 2010-2020: comparison of medicines with or without extensions of indications.

Anna-Maria Ruuskanen, Terhi Kurko, Kati Sarnola, Katariina Klintrup, Hanna Koskinen

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Anna-Maria Ruuskanen *Research at Kela, The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela), Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0009-0001-9149-7416
Terhi Kurko *Research at Kela, The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela), Helsinki, Finland terhi.kurko@kela.fi.ORCID 0000-0002-9028-8727
Kati SarnolaResearch at Kela, The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela), Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0003-1300-7482
Katariina KlintrupMedical Advisory Centre, The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) , Helsinki, Finland.
Hanna KoskinenResearch at Kela, The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela), Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0001-9844-5443

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionDuring the last decade, extensions of therapeutic indications have been one of the most common methods to extend the lifecycle of a medical product in the post-authorisation phase and to increase the use and sales of medicines. The aim of this study was to gain understanding of the lifecycle of cancer medicines and especially the role and level of evidence extensions in comparison to first indications. MATERIALS AND

methodsWe identified all new outpatient cancer medicines approved by the European Medicines Agency between 2010 and 2020 and the extensions to their indications. We compared general study design characteristics from the European public assessment reports using critical appraisal tools and clinical added value assessments.

resultsWe identified altogether 55 new outpatient cancer medicines, 31 of which had one or more extension(s) of indication and 24 had no extension of indication. In total, there were 57 extensions. The most common extension of indication was a change in the treatment line (35%). Compared with first indications, the overall quality of studies supporting extensions was better in terms of study designs. The proportion of medicines providing CAV was higher in extensions compared with first indication of medicines with and without extensions.

conclusionsBased on different assessments and perspectives, we found that extensions of indications are a very common and important part of extending the lifecycle of outpatient cancer medicines in Europe. Our findings also suggest that the clinical value of cancer medicines increases with extensions.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsDrug ApprovalNeoplasmsEuropeHumansAntineoplastic Agentsclinical trialshealth policyoncology

Identifiers

PMID39433409
PMCPMC11499751

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.